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.

Resource Roundup: Year-end 2024
A Caregiver’s Research: Appendix Cancer & Pseudomyxoma-Peritonei-PMP CRS-HIPEC compiled by Julian S. (click here)
Canadian Pal Julian S. is a care partner with his wife, Maggie. As part of their experience navigating appendix cancer and her ultimate treatment – CRS & HIPEC – they learned a lot along the way. Last updated September 14, 2024
Cancer-related Articles & Studies (5)
PMP Pals Resource Roundup: Winter 2024
This quarter, we found Purposeful Reading with a newsletter from PSOGI chairman and CRS/HIPEC pioneer Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, a handful of articles.
- Section 1: Progress in Clinical or Laboratory Research: A Classification of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Based on the Natural History of the DiseaseA classification essential for the surgeon to assess prognosis after CRS and HIPEC (Dr. Sugarbaker)
- Section 2: The back story on Center of Excellence, The Basingstoke (Dr. Sugarbaker, edited by Tom Cecil)
- Section 3: Listing of upcoming events
- Section 4: Alternatives to traditional HIPEC, a peak at Radspherin®, a novel alpha-radiopharmaceutical for intraperitoneal administration to combat residual microscopic disease following CRS with or without HIPEC (Stein Gunnar Larsen,Roy Hartvig Larsen, Øyvind Sverre Bruland)
- Section 5: Pioneers of progress in peritoneal surface malignancyWho was John Stricklin Spratt, Jr., MD? (Dr. Sugarbaker)
- Section 6: Focus on active PSM protocols, Peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer treated with bidirectional approach comprising PIPAC and systemic chemotherapy (Shigeki Kusamura)
- Section 7: Editorial comments
PSOGI Website (2)
Calculating the Peritoneal Cancer Index, October 2016
Who is candidate for CRS/HIPEC? Opinion from Dr. Sugarbaker, July 2016
Cancer-related Articles & Studies (8)
PMP Pals Resource Roundup: Late Summer 2024
We’re always scanning medical journals, practitioner magazines, cancer-focused blogs, and our partner websites for resources about this rare disease. Depending on where you are on your appendix cancer journey, you may be searching for information about current treatment practices, recovering well, and technology advancements showing promise in 2, 5, or 10 years. Be sure to check the footnotes references at the end of every reading. Here’s what we turned up this past week that may be of interest to you:
Appendix Cancer Articles (8)
Articles related to Colorectal Cancer (CRC) (2)
Hydroxygenkwanin suppresses peritoneal metastasis in colorectal cancer by modulating tumor-associated macrophages polarization, ScienceDirect, June 2024
FDA Approves Lonsurf Plus Avastin for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, Cure, August 2023
General Cancer Articles (8)
Molecular and Clinicopathologic Impact of GNAS Variants Across Solid Tumors, Journal of Clinical Oncology, August 2024
Treating the Whole Person: How Cancer Centers Are Addressing Social Needs, National Institute of Cancer, July 18, 2024
The Growing Use of Liquid Biopsy in Oncology, Nurse Oncology Advisor, July 19, 2024 (additional references at article end)
Cancer Survivors Are More Likely to Report Mobility, Self-Care Disabilities, Nurse Oncology Advisor, July 19, 2024 (additional references at article end)
Mass General Cancer Center Researchers Identify Gene That Helps Cancer Cells Spread Throughout the Body, MassGeneral Hospital, June 2024
The Importance of Social Support in Helping Patients with Cancer Deal With Change, Oncology Nurse Advisor, May 2024
Medicare Limits Cancer Patients’ Access to Home Infusions. A New Bill Could Change That, Oncology Nurse Advisor, August 2023
Cancer Survivors With Functional Disabilities Have Higher Health Care Costs, Oncology Nurse Advisor, August 2023
Scientists Make Skin Cells 30 Years Younger, Nice News, July 2022
Got a resource to share with our Pals community? Email us the link for our next article round-up.
Photo by Ashni on Unsplash
Media Kit: One in a Million 5K Run/Walk Benefitting PMP Pals Network
RELEASE DATE: August 6, 2024
EVENT DATE: September 14, 2024
5K RACE CONTACT: Sheri Doss, San Antonio appendix cancer survivor, sheridoss@pmppals.net 210-262-2538
PMP PALS CONTACT: Charmaine Skillman, Austin appendix cancer survivor, charmaine@pmppals.net 512-694-8300
PRESS CONTACT: Tara Collins, care partner tara@pmppals.net 607-643-5148
PRESS RELEASE HERE: https://pmppals.net/one-in-a-million-5k-run-walk-benefits-global-rare-cancer-peer-community/
HEADLINE: One in a Million 5K Run/Walk Benefits Global Rare Cancer Peer Community
SUBHEAD: Appendix cancer survivor and local San Antonian Sheri Doss spearheads local event to highlight health, wellness, appendix cancer, and a birthday she was not destined to see
HOOKS:
- August is Appendix Cancer Awareness Month. Amber is this rare disease “ribbon” color.
- Local resident is a member of a global community of rare disease survivors beating the odds and living well beyond an appendix cancer diagnosis.
- Interesting Facts about Appendix Cancer:
- Appendix cancer affects one in a million people globally each year.
- Appendix cancer is on the rise, particularly among people under 40.
- Appendix cancer generates a condition called Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, or PMP, a mucin which creates abdominal complications that inhibit a long life.
- Appendix cancer is a rare disease with no cure but has life-extending best practices when diagnosed early and treated appropriately.
- The Standard of Care for APpendix cancer is the MOAS – Mother of All Surgeries – which includes extensive removal of peritoneal organs called Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) coupled with HIPEC, Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. Other treatments include systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, PIPAC.
- HIPEC involved filling the belly cavity with a heated chemotherapy solution and “bathing” the organs for a period of up to 90 minutes.
IMAGES:
L-R: Sheri Doss; Sheri & Harold Doss; Hope the Bear Awards; One in a Million logo; PMP Pals logo; Sheri & Harold with family; more images available upon request





INTERVIEW CANDIDATES:
Sheri & Harold Doss (PMP Pals couple in SATX, race director) Sheri Doss, San Antonio appendix cancer survivor, sheridoss@pmppals.net 210-262-2538
Dr. Armando Sardi, Mercy Hospital, Baltimore, MD (Sheri’s physician)|
Charmaine Skillman, Austin, TX (Pals Treasurer/Event Coordinator, 25-year survivorTara Collins, Little Egg Harbor, NJ (Care partner to husband diagnosed in 2022 with second most aggressive subtype-appendiceal goblet cell adenocarcinoma)
REFLECTIONS FROM PMP PALS WORLDWIDE:
Christine Hill & family (4 generations of Pals in Minnesota)
Lindsay Wolfram (international Pal in Canada)
Adele Jasion, Illinois (Pals President, 14-year survivor)
LINKS OF INTEREST:
PMP Pals https://www.pmppals.net
One in a Million 5K Run Walk registration page: https://solerssports.raceentry.com/races/one-in-a-million-5k-runwalk/2024/register
5K sponsorships: https://solerssports.raceentry.com/races/one-in-a-million-5k-runwalk/2024/sponsor
5K sponsorship tiers: https://i0.wp.com/pmppals.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/OIAM-5K-In-Sponsorships-Graphic.png
5k donations: https://solerssports.raceentry.com/races/one-in-a-million-5k-runwalk/2024/fundraising/charity/charity/pmp-pals-8445
ONE IN A MILLION 5K RACE DETAILS:
Virtual & In-person: September 14, 2024
Lady Bird Johnson Park, 10700 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio, TX 78217
REGISTRATION: 5K and Virtual https://solerssports.raceentry.com/races/one-in-a-million-5k-runwalk/2024/register
PACKET PICKUP:
September 12, 4-7p at La Tea Da, 434 N Loop 1604 W, Ste 1101, San Antonio
RACE DAY:
7:30am Event-day registration & packet pick-up
8:30am Welcome
9:00am Race start
10:00am beginning of awards ceremony and random bib number drawings for door prizes
This is a certified 5K with chipped timing. Results will be posted immediately after the race.
RACE PROFILE:
- 5K Run/Walk is an out-and-back profile.
- Length is approximately 1.5 miles each way.
- A half-mile turnaround is marked for short-course participants. 1-milers are welcome. All participants on course must sign a waiver.
- Bring a friend.
- Strollers allowed.
- Sorry, no pets this year.
- COURSE MAPS: 5K Run/Walk Course
- This is a rain-or-shine event! Remember to dress appropriately for the event!
PMP PALS SOCIAL PLATFORMS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pmppalsnetwork
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pmp_pals/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pmppalsnetwork/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PMPPals
Website: www.pmppals.net
ONE IN A MILLION 5K RACE DETAILS:
Virtual & In-person: September 14, 2024
Lady Bird Johnson Park, 10700 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio, TX 78217
REGISTRATION: 5K and Virtual https://solerssports.raceentry.com/races/one-in-a-million-5k-runwalk/2024/register
PACKET PICKUP:
September 12, 4-7p at La Tea Da, 434 N Loop 1604 W, Ste 1101, San Antonio
RACE DAY:
- 7:30am Event-day registration & packet pick-up
- 8:30am Welcome
- 9:00am Race start
- 10:00am beginning of awards ceremony and random bib number drawings for door prizes
- This is a certified 5K with chipped timing. Results will be posted immediately after the race.
RACE PROFILE:
- 5K Run/Walk is an out-and-back profile.
- Length is approximately 1.5 miles each way.
- A half-mile turnaround is marked for short-course participants. 1-milers are welcome. All participants on course must sign a waiver.
- Bring a friend.
- Strollers allowed.
- Sorry, no pets this year.
- COURSE MAPS: 5K Run/Walk Course
- This is a rain-or-shine event! Remember to dress appropriately for the event!
AWARDS:
The One in a Million 5K bestows HOPE; our mascot, Hope the Bear, is the honorary award this year. Created and handcrafted by California resident Linda Abrao, these bears symbolize Hope. We’re excited to hand out over 55 bears as part of our award ceremony on September 14.
Awards for top overall finisher: 1st Place Male and Female
Age Group Awards: 1st Place Male and Female
(Male 15-19, Male 20-29, Male 30-39, Male 40-49, Male 50-59, Male 60+
Female 15-19, Female 20-29, Female 30-39, Female 40-49, Female 50-59, Female 60+)