Living in a 70% World
- Abdominal Cancers Alliance
- Sep 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 7
By Linda McLaughlin
New Jersey
September 2025
A cancer diagnosis hits you like a ton of bricks. It’s one of those things that happens to other
people, not you. Mine was no exception in 2021. And, after a long and successful haul to get to the other side, I live with the fact that there is a 30 percent chance of recurrence. So, my attitude is I live in a 70 percent world, as though it’s behind me. Focusing on the 30 percent only brings me down and, hey, the odds are on my side! Life is good.
I’ve been physically active my whole life and still consider myself an athlete at age 65. I suppose that mentality never changes, despite your age! I swim, bike, do yoga and more and love the outdoors. So, when my left hip started to hurt, I figured time was just catching up with me. I eventually had an MRI toward the end of 2020 and the orthopedic doctor said “you’re not ready for a hip replacement yet, BUT ……. you have something going on in your abdomen you need to get checked out.” Newsflash #1: Life can be interrupted at a moment’s notice--that was the
beginning of my cancer journey.
I learned my ovaries were enlarged and needed to come out. Since my blood work was normal, there was no expectation of cancer. I was relieved to be facing simple laparoscopic surgery which occurred in March 2021. Little did I know I would wake up from that “simple” procedure with a full hysterectomy, my appendix and omentum removed, and a one in a million diagnosis that would change my life forever – appendix cancer with extensive spread known as PMP (pseudomyxoma peritonei).
The good news: it was low-grade, meaning it’s a slow-growing cancer that resides in your
peritoneal cavity and does not get into your blood. It’s referred to as LAMN (low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm). I likely had it for years. The bad news: if not removed, it would ultimately be terminal. Looking ahead, there was lots of research to do and decisions to make. Newsflash #2: The value of accessing the right information and treatment can be lifesaving. It was for me. My research led me to Dr. Sardi at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, a world-renowned appendix cancer expert. Suddenly, there was hope.
Looking back, the signs were there but vague. I had persistent pain on my right side for two years, had every test imaginable and the only diagnosis I was given was “gastritis.” I didn’t buy it, but what did I know, I’m not a doctor. So, I accepted the diagnosis with reservation. My abdomen was also getting bigger even though my patterns of exercise and eating had not changed. I blamed it on turning 60. Ha! In retrospect, looking almost six months pregnant clearly is not something that just happens at age 60. Newsflash #3: Be keenly aware of changes in your body and pursue getting answers that make sense to you. Nobody knows you better than you!
I was lucky in one regard – I had the good fortune of having an excellent local oncologic surgeon who did my initial surgery in March. While many might see my condition only a few times in their
career if at all, he knew exactly where to direct me for the only option that would save my life - CRS-HIPEC surgery, a/k/a MOAS (the Mother of All Surgeries), a radical procedure pioneered by Dr. Paul Sugarbaker only about 30+ years ago.
Unfortunately, many patients do not get this initial guidance and go down the wrong path because some well-meaning surgeons are just not aware of CRS-HIPEC, but this is changing. I did the research and was scared to death and not mentally
prepared for this assault on my body. But the choice was clear if I wanted to live.
Essentially, with a pelvic to chest incision, Dr. Sardi and his team removed all of the mucinous cancer they could visually see along with some organs that could not be saved (that’s the CRS part – cytoreductive
surgery). Then, they finish with a 90-minute one-time shot of heated chemo to kill any microscopic cancer cells that are not visible (that’s the HIPEC part – heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy).
While recovering from my March surgery, we embarked on an extensive search for information. What exactly did I have? What is the most optimal treatment? What are the survival statistics and what factors are critical for the best possible outcome? Who treats this? What are the risks? Are there survivors who I could talk to? When you are on the ‘1 in a million island’, it can be quite lonely. Patients must be their own advocates and be relentless in the pursuit of information.
Prior to my CRS/HIPEC, I met with four surgeons at reputable institutions. I ultimately chose Dr. Sardi because he first studied Dr. Sugarbaker 's techniques and surgical practices 30 years ago. That experience helped hone his surgical skills, giving him the confidence to take on the most challenging cases. The result of taking on the toughest cases has made him one of the most creative and innovative appendiceal cancer surgeons in the world; his approach aligned with mine (be as aggressive as you need to while balancing quality of life); he was straightforward about my prognosis; and I just plain liked him. My surgery took 12-plus hours with either the partial or total removal of five more organs. The medical team was nothing short of outstanding; I am forever grateful.
Recovery was three to four months, including two 10-plus-day hospital stays and TPN (intravenous daily nutrition) for a few months since I could not keep food down. It was not for the faint of heart,
but the will to live is real. It was two steps forward, one step back, but today it is more than four years later, and I am thankful for each day and living life to the fullest, enjoying family, friends, travel, exercise, work and everything in between, with the acceptance of my “new normal.”
Everyone’s new normal is different, all things considered, and mine is managing digestive issues and food intake. A small price to pay for a second chance at life. A bigger part of the new normal is that little voice that haunts you about recurrence, a dark place you never want to be in again.
Well, as I started out this story, I live in a 70 percent world every day, accepting the reality but focusing on the positive, not allowing it to steal my joy today.
I cannot overstate how important it is to have family and friends to help you through this. I am forever grateful to my husband, Michael, who never left my side during the most difficult days, my daughter and son-in-law, Meaghan and Brandon, and my son, Mike Jr., who were there as well and were a beacon of light fueling my will to live, not to mention countless other family members and friends. Newsflash #4: A caregiver may not have your cancer, but they experience it all with you. That role cannot be underestimated.
Living 100 percent in a 70 percent world means I choose gratitude, hope and purpose every day. If the gift of my story helps even one person find answers sooner or feel less alone in their fight, then God kept me here for a reason and my journey has meaning.
Newsflash #5: This is why I serve on the Board of the Abdominal Cancers Alliance—because awareness saves lives, connection eases loneliness, and navigation guidance helps patients and caregivers make sense of an overwhelming journey. I know firsthand how much it matters to have the right information, the right treatment, and the right support at the right time. That is the mission I carry forward with gratitude and passion.
Life is never guaranteed, but gratitude makes every day a gift.
