After my ruptured appendix was removed, the surgeon said the operation “took a little longer, it was messy in there.” For the follow-up, he called me in earlier to give me the bad news.
Interview with Dr Sugarbaker, the renowned surgical oncologist on what the future holds for treating the disease.
Currently, Dr Sugarbaker is the Director for the Program in Peritoneal Surface Oncology. His interests are in gastrointestinal cancer, gynecologic malignancy and mesothelioma.
Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a complex operation with the aim of removing all visible tumours, affected tissue and entire organs. The NICE guidelines recommends the Sugarbaker technique and defines the operation as radical.
I cried as I was driving home from my doctor’s appointment. Then I picked myself up when I got home and googled “low grade mucinous appendiceal neoplasm” because I needed to know everything about this new enemy. That’s when I found the term pseudomyxoma peritonei.
Pseudomyxoma Survivor is proud to have sponsored the recent PMP Patients’ Meeting which was held in Basingstoke in May 2013. The first meeting of its kind in the UK, attendees heard sessions from Dr Paul Sugarbaker and patient advocates Amani Albedah, Dave Mason and Dawn Green as well as attending breakout sessions which covered a range of topics.
Following an abnormal smear, I was referred to my local gynaecological oncology centre where an ultrasound scan revealed a complex mass believed to be ovarian in nature.
When discussing PMP with your kids, keep it simple and age-appropriate. Focus on reassurance, love, and answering their questions honestly.