The Power of Hope: Fighting Cancer and Celebrating Survival

On Saturday, October 28, 90 people gathered from all over the world for The Power of Hope: Fighting Cancer and Celebrating Survival event. This event was focused on bringing patients affected by peritoneal surface diseases, along with their caregivers, families, doctors and clinicians, together to share stories and experiences in a supportive environment. Expert speakers focused on topics such as meditation and breathwork, nutrition management, mental health, and medical advances. The event ended with a message of hope from an appendix cancer survivor and her husband/caregiver.

MCW Surgery partnered with PMP Pals to host this event. PMP Pals is a global, volunteer-run, peer-to-peer support community for patients and caregivers living with appendix cancer and related peritoneal surface malignancies. PMP Pals helps build emotional resilience by sharing hope, experience, resources and information through programs and services that meet the challenges of the rare disease group.

Funding for this event was provided by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) Endowment and the Froedtert Hospital Foundation. For additional information on this topic, visit mcw.edu/surgery.

Sheri, an appendix cancer survivor, and Harold Doss, caregiver, were among the patient guest speakers at the event.

From left to right: Karen Kersting, PhD, Emma Staszkiewicz, Bailey Schamburek, Ugwuji Maduekwe, MD, MMSc, MPH, Jennifer Merrill, APNP, Maggie Lausten, Anai Kothari, MD, MS