In honor of National Trivia Day (January 4), we pulled together trivia on our founder Gabriella Graham, her legacy PMP Pals, and the rare disease that started it all, appendix cancer and pseudomyxoma peritonei. Test your knowledge with the 30 questions below and let us know how you did on our Facebook or Instagram Page.
OUR FOUNDER
1. In what city was Gabriella Graham raised?
2. What was the name of her pet conure?
3. What was the name of her pet cat?
4. What was the name of Gabriella Graham’s dog, PMP Pals’ first mascot?
5. What professional bestows the Gabriella Graham Patient Advocacy Award at their annual conference?
6. What two Pals have received this award?
PMP PALS
7. In what year was PMP Pals founded?
8. In what year did Pals start Hope Zoom?
9. Which PMP Pal currently competes as a PMP Pals Athlete Ambassador?
10. Which PMP Pal is known as Captain Chemo?
11 Which PMP Pal is known as Superman?
12. Who is our Caregiver Extraordinaire & Mentor Coordinator?
13. Which beloved Pal loves snow?
14. Which Pals started the Barad Blanket Program?
15. What is the official Pals flower?
16. What is the name of PMP Pals bear mascot?
MEET UP
17. Where was the first PMP Pals Meet-Up held?
18. In what Midwest city did Pals host a Meet-Up?
19. In addition to Gabriella, which Pals coordinated Meet-Ups?
20. Who was the cannabis expert speaker at Meet Up’24?
21. Where was Meet Up’23 held?
22. Which Pal was the motivational speaker at Meet Up’22?
23. Which two physicians spoke at Meet Up’21 online and now serve on the PMP Pals Medical Advisory Board?
THIS RARE DISEASE, APPENDIX CANCER
24. What does PMP stand for in the context of Appendix Cancer?
A) Peritoneal Mucinous Production
B) Pseudomyxoma Peritonei
C) Peritoneal Malignant Pathology
D) Primary Malignant PMP
25. What does HIPEC stand for?
A) High-Intensity Peritoneal Endoscopic Care
B) Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
C) Hypothermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
D) Hyper-Inflammatory Peritoneal Endoscopic Care
26. What is the primary goal of HIPEC treatment?
A) Reduce inflammation in the peritoneal cavity
B) Kill microscopic cancer cells left after surgery
C) Prevent infection during recovery
D) Improve overall immunity
27. What does the term “cytoreduction” refer to in PMP and Appendix Cancer treatment?
A) Reducing blood pressure
B) Removing as much visible tumor as possible
C) Increasing chemotherapy dosage
D) Stimulating the immune system
28. What percentage of appendix cancers are typically discovered during surgery for appendicitis?
A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 20%
D) 50%
29. During cytoreductive surgery, what is the procedure called where the surgeon removes the peritoneal lining, usually in the lower right quadrant?
30. Who pioneered the use of HIPEC for this disease, remains an active advocate for our community, and spearheads PSOGI (Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International)?
ANSWERS
- Carmel by the Sea, CA, USA
- Sheba
- Toby
- Chulita
- SSO/ACT, Society of Surgical Oncology/Abdominal Cancer Therapies
- Past president Chris Piekarski and current president Adele Jasion
- 1998
- Our first physician presentation “Minimally Invasive Diagnostics & Treatments” featuring Dr. Jesus Esquivel was May 30, 2020.
- Ariel Mirendorf
- Willie C.
- Paul C.
- Connie C-A.
- Jamie V.
- Jim B. and his daughter Lindsay
- Sunflower
- Hope
- Any of these answers are correct: Monterey, Seaside, Bayonet, Black Horse Golf Club
- Milwaukee, WI
- Chris P., Charmaine S., Lindsay B., Roberta G.
- Jane Fix, Jane E. Fix Consulting, AZ
- San Diego
- Joel Neeb
- Dr. Jula Veerapong and Dr. Melanie Onchin
- B) Pseudomyxoma peritonei
- B) Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
- B) Kill microscopic cancer cells left after surgery
- B) Removing as much visible tumor as possible
- B) 10%
- Pertionectomy
- Dr. Paul Sugarbaker
Congratualtions! Thanks for taking the PMP Pals Trivia quiz.
Have trivia questions you’d like included here? Email them to tara@pmppals.net.
Pal Lindsay B. talked with three appendix cancer specialists on the Society of Surgical Oncology’s podcast, SurgOncToday. Moderated by PMP Pals Medical Advisory Board member Dr. Melanie Ongchin of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Lindsay spoke about fertility issues facing women with peritoneal cancer diagnoses. Thrust into an immediate decision-making scenario, on top of dealing with a cancer diagnosis, women need solid information in real time to decide how to preserve their options for future parenthood. Joining the conversation are Dr. Trang Nguyen from Washington University and Dr. Molly Kledzik from WVU.
Thanks Lindsay for being a patient advocate and Pals ambassador, and speaking openly about these issues that face women navigating appendix cancer, its related conditions like PMP, and the rare disease journey.
Each year, the Mike Weber Sr. Memorial Foundation holds its annual fundraiser at White Beeches Golf & Country Club in Haworth, NJ. Family members honor the legacy of Mike Sr., an appendix cancer survivor whose legendary impact on his local community lives on in larger-than-life ways. The foundation bearing his name, led by his wife and three children, continues to influence the rare disease space. This year, board members Dave L., Pals Lindsay Barad, and father Jim joined board member Mike Weber Jr. in raising awareness of appendix cancer and inspiring generosity in honor of Mike Sr.
“It’s an amazing event,” notes Dave L. “A true honor to a great man whose amazing legacy continues in his family and their tireless dedication to save others from this deadly disease.
I hope it continues as it has become a highlight of my summer. I played well, one away from shooting PAR, on an immaculate course, with great people. Thanks, Mike, your family, and the army of volunteers. It was a very good day, indeed!”
Over 250 people attended the golf tournament and contributed over $35,000 towards various patient and care partner groups. For more information on the Mike Weber Sr. Memorial Foundation, visit www.goteamweber.com.
Each year, SSO/ACT extends the Gabriella Graham Patient Advocacy Award “to an individual or patient advocacy organization that has provided support and hope to patients and families facing cancers that are often treated with a regional treatment approach.” Pals past-president Chris Piekarski and current president Adele Jasion received the honor in 2022 and 2018, respectively. Not only does this award recognize the important role of patient support, it reminds us of the decades of service by Gabriella and PMP Pals.
SSO/ACT recognized the work of Manju George, MVSc, PhD, and the patient advocacy community, COLONTOWN. Manju knows a thing or two about cancer as she’s a Stage 3b rectal cancer survivor. After her diagnosis in 2017, she joined COLONTOWN and applied her post-doctoral training and research experience in Cell and Cancer Biology to develop “CRC 101,” an introductory educational primer for patients new to the colorectal cancer journey. Much like PMP Pals, COLONTOWN offers patient-centered resources, a vibrant Facebook community, “Doc Talks” with expert & physician presentations, and support through peer exchange. Take a look at their website for interesting information and resources you might find helpful.
Congratulations Manju for emboding the spirit and persistence of our founder and helping patients worldwide live well beyond their diagnosis.
Pals President Adele Jasion and Secretary-Treasurer Charmain Skillman attended the Society of Surgical Oncology’s Advanced Cancer Therapies (SSO/ACT) symposium in February 2024. Charmaine shares her perspective here.
PMP Pals recently attended the meeting of the Society of Surgical Oncology Advanced Cancer Therapies (SSO/ACT) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.This gathering of 200 surgeons and associated professionals is the most concentrated annual educational event in the U.S. for those treating peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs).
Why do we go to SSO? Adele and I attended and tabled in the exhibit hall to increase exposure of PMP Pals and our programs for individuals affected by PMP and appendix cancer. We spent three days renewing connections with long-time friends of Pals and meeting new physicians just starting their careers. These interactions bring many benefits, such as identifying new speakers and new topics for our HOPE ZOOM meetings and other events. Also, we learn of new research and new treatments in development. And, we continuously rely on these connections for advice, answers, and involvement in new projects, such as our newly-formed Medical Advisory Board (The MAB – more on that in our next enews). We even met three of our MAB Pals – Doctors Dineen, Onchin, and Wiatrek – over breakfast.
Plus, we were very proud to be in the room when SSO/ACT presented the Gabriella Graham Patient Advocacy Award, inspired by the work of our founder. This year, Manju George, Scientific Director for Paltown Development Foundation and COLONTOWN, accepted the award for her nonprofit’s work supporting and educating the colorectal cancer (CRC) patient community. We met with and congratulated Manju, too, and learned more about this large patient organization. We invited her to a future HOPE Zoom to talk about COLONTOWN and medical advancements in the CRC space.
PMP Pals is grateful to participate in SSO/ACT as a sponsoring exhibitor. Your donations allowed Adele and I to represent PMP Pals among the medical professionals who serve our community — your financial support is crucial to our ability to attend this essential event.
Several Pals are very public with their illness, choosing to share their wellness journey online via YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Caring Bridge. All share the hope of helping a fellow appendix cancer survivor navigate the surprises of this diagnosis, along with insider perspectives for treatment and daily living. You can find Pals like Jamie V., Lindsay B., Roberta G., and Ariel M. through their social platforms.
Paul in Perth (aka Paul E. from Australia) has a Youtube channel on which he’s become something of a virtual celebrity. With over 24,000 followers worldwide, Paul chronicles his appendix cancer/PMP journey through the highs and lows. He recently shared his efforts to “wrangle his affairs” by organizing paperwork into binders and explaining his system with family ahead of time. He’s got a really sold way of explaining processes and the how’s and why’s; he’s also always looking for solutions and answers to pass along to others. Be sure to give his videos the “Thumbs Up” to help them with passive income, Like/Follow his YouTube Channel to increase their visibility as social influencers, and comment to let him know you’re listening.
*PLEASE NOTE: The views and comments shared by Pals on their own communications channels are their own opinions and perspectives. Their comments do not necessarily reflect those held by PMP Pals.
Pals Living Life: Patient Advocate Lindsay B. Talks Fertility on SurgOncToday Podcast