Katherine’s Story

Site created on May 14, 2019

Hi Friends and Family!
Thank you for checking in on me. For anyone who does not know, I was diagnosed with Stage IV Appendix Cancer after an emergency appendectomy in April.

I will be admitted to Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore on May 22nd. My treatment will begin on May 23rd with the following procedure, also called MOAS (Mother of All Surgeries):

"Cytoreductive (tumor debulking) surgery to remove the tumor and mucin in the abdomen. Parts of the intestine, gallbladder, spleen, liver, ovaries, uterus and lining of the abdominal cavity may be removed.Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (https://www.mdanderson.org/treatment-options/hyperthermic-intraperitoneal-chemotherapy.html) (HIPEC), also known as heated chemotherapy, which is performed during tumor debulking surgery. The abdominal cavity is filled with a chemotherapy drug, which is heated to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Your abdomen is rocked gently back and forth for 90 minutes to ensure the drugs go to all areas of the abdominal cavity."

The procedure will last between 10 and 14 hours.  I will be in the hospital at least 10 days. My diagnosis is Goblet Cell Carcinoid with Signet Ring features. Dr. Sardi is a world renowned surgical oncologist and one of a handful of surgeons that can perform this procedure.
Because this cancer does not show on scans, we will not know the extent of the disease until after surgery.

My mother, Stella Parolisi and my daughter Cammie will be updating this site for me, so check back! Please keep me and my family in your prayers. This is a long, scary road. I am grateful for all the love and support. Thank you.

Katherine/Kat/Kathy


Newest Update

Journal entry by Katherine Turell

Hi Friends and Family-

I want to thank everyone for checking in on me! I cannot even begin to express how much it has meant to me and how much your support is helping my recovery.

I am now 4 weeks out from my surgery. It has been the worst experience of my life. The surgical team removed 27 tumors. They removed my omemtum, uterus, Fallopian tubes, ovaries, half of my colon, part of my bladder, and my spleen. 

Fortunately, my lymph nodes were clear of disease! And, hopefully, the hot chemo has taken care of any rogue cancer cells in my abdomen.  

Because this cancer is so aggressive and elusive to tests, I will begin a 6 month course of chemotherapy in July.  I will have a port inserted in my chest on July 1st.  

I am nervous to start the chemo because I did experience a lot of side affects from the chemo I received during surgery.  The mouth sores were awful and my hair thinned so much that I got a short haircut.  I also experienced hand and foot neuropathy.  

On top of all this, I have had to receive iron infusions due to the blood loss during the surgery.

Mercy Medical has a satellite office in Glen Burnie where I will go for my chemo.  This will be so much easier than driving into Baltimore.

The pain I am experiencing has been the biggest surprise to me. It keeps me up at night.  Reading posts on my rare disease group helps, as most people with this disease have the same issues.

I want to thank my parents. They have been completely selfless and a true testament of love and support.  They have been with me 24/7 for the past month and I can never thank them enough.

I hope to return to work as soon as I know how the chemo will affect me. I am shooting for July 15th. 

I will post again after my port is inserted! 

 

With gratitude,

Katherine

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