PMP Pals' Mission Statement

The PMP Pals’ Network is volunteer, worldwide resource and referral service for patients,
 heir family caregivers, and healthcare providers affected by Appendix cancers, including
Mucinous Adenocarcinoma, Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, Disseminated Peritioneal Carcinomatosis DPAM,
Signet Ring Cell, cancers affecting the peritoneum and the digestive system, and Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.

The goals of the PMP Pals’ Network include the following...

• To assist and serve newly diagnosed patients, and their caregivers, as a source of information and referrals to physicians experienced in the treatment of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, Peritoneal Carcinomatosis , Peritoneal Surface Malignancies, cancers affecting the digestive system, and all mucin producing conditions originating with Appendix Cancer.
   
• To share resources and information to assist patients in living well with the challenges of Appendix Cancer, Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, related diseases, and
  
  To provide assistance to patients and their family caregivers in preparing for, and recuperating from, surgery and/or chemotherapy.
  
  We are a volunteer patient advocacy program, representing the needs of patients and their immediate family caregivers. We receive no funding from cancer centers, cancer “societies”, pharmaceutical companies or physicians who treat appendix cancer or pseudomyxoma peritonei.
  
  When you become a "Pal Patient" or Pal Family Caregiver" your questions won't be left floating somewhere in cyberspace...we are here and are ready to assist you!
  
  Referrals to Healthcare Providers
  
  
• The PMP Pals’ Network does not endorse any particular physician or medical facility.
  
• Our database includes an international listing of surgeons, oncologists and pathologists experiencing in treating Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, Appendix Cancer and related diseases.
  
  PMP Pals' Program Services

In addition to referring patients to experienced healthcare providers, we provide the following services to our subscribing members:

• The Pal Mentoring Program**: introducing patients and their caregivers with specific Pal Mentors, based on each patient's diagnosis, gender, surgeon, and special needs. Introductions are provided via email, telephone calls, postal letters, personal visits, and SKYPE,
  
  
• A subscription to the monthly PMP Pals' Network Newsletters,
  
  
• Copies of our series of three PMP Pals' Network Handbooks;
  
  "Preparing for Physician Consultations",
  "Preparing for Surgery" and
  "Resource Guide for Patients and Family Caregivers."
  
  Free books and booklets for general cancer care including a wide variety of helpful literature for both patients and caregivers
  
  Monthly electronic mail bulletins
  
  Participation in our annual conference
  
  
• Use of our extensive website, www.pmppals.org
  
  All English and Spanish language inquiries are responded to within 1-12 hours of receipt.
  All other language inquiries are responded to within 1-24 hours of receipt, depending on time zone(s).
  
  PMP Pals' Resource Programs
  
  Among our more than two dozen specialized Pal Resource Groups are:
  
• Gastrectomy Pals (for patients living without a stomach)
• Ostomy Pals (for patients living with an ileostomy, colostomy or urostomy)
• Chemo Pals (for patient receiving systemic or HIPEC chemotherapy treatment)
• Young Families (for patients raising young families)
• Mucinous Adenocarcinoma Pals
• ”Senior Pals” and many more specialized resource groups! 
  
  PMP Pals’ Network Pal Mentor Program**
  
  
• The PMP Pals’ Network believes that confident, well educated patients experience a stronger and faster recuperation than do patients who are poorly informed and fearful of surgery.
  
  
• We base this belief on our own personal experiences as patients and family caregivers.
  
  
• The PMP Pals’ Network assists newly diagnosed patients in preparing for surgery by linking them directly with specific Pal Mentors, who have personally been selected to assist each individual patient,  based on maturity, successful recuperation, positive attitude, common interests and adherence to HIPAA* guidelines.
  
  
• Pre op patients and their Pal Mentors communicate directly via telephone, personal visits,
  email and SKYPE.
  
  
• Among the topics that Pal Mentors assist patients in addressing are:
  
  
• Adjustment to ostomies,
  
  Post gastrectomy diet and nutrition,
  
  Returning to the work force following recuperation,
  
  Resumption of personal intimacies, post op,
  
  Applying for health insurance, Social Security disability, and other benefits, if needed,
  
  And a variety of other topics that you and/or your staff, may not have the time to assist with.
  
  
• The PMP Pals’ Network serves patients and their families in 45 countries and in more than one dozen languages.
  
  
• We encourage you to join the PMP Pals Network and begin communicating with your Pal Mentors today!
  
  Countries We Serve
  
  The PMP Pals' Network serves patients, their family caregivers and healthcare providers in these countries:
  
  Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Australia,
  Belgium, Brazil,
  Canada, China, Columbia,
  Denmark, Dominican Republic, Dubai,
  Egypt, England, Finland, France,
  Germany, Greece, Holland, Jordan
  India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
  Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco,
  Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway,
  Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal,
  Saudi Arabia, Santo Domingo, Scotland, Serbia
  South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
  Taiwan, United States of America, and Wales
  
  Advisory Council
  
  Susan Cardy, OCT, Hons. BA, BEd, Canada
  Edward F. Maguire, BA, MHA, FACHE, United States
  Marilyn Price, BA, Ed Ad Australia
  Sandra Rhoades, BS, MA, United States
  Brian B. Spillane,M.S. United States
  
  Editorial Council
  
  Evan Bukey, PhD
  Gabriella Graham
  Sara Shatford Layne, PhD
  Mark McMahon
  Brian B. Spillane, M.S.
  
  Founding Members
  
  The "Original Ten" PMP Pals (1998!)
  
  Eizabeth Collins
  Henry den Hartog, PhD
  Bernard Goldberg
  Gabriella Graham
  Sara Shatford Layne, PhD
  Charlotte Lindon
  Edie McCall
  Tom & Joan Panek
  Audrey Ragan
  
  
• PMP Pals' Nutrition Advisory Council
  
• Sandra Rhoades, PMP Family Caregiver
  Bachelors of Science in Dietetics
  Master of Public Health in Nutrition
  
  
  Affiliations
  
  American Cancer Society
  UOA United Ostomy Association
  NORD National Organization of Rare Disorders
  
  PMP Pals' History
  
  In 1998 patients and family caregivers in the US, the UK and Holland, realized the need to exchange resources about medical options, research, clinical trials, preparation and recuperation from/for surgery and/or chemotherapy, assistance with health insurance and disability claims, transportation and family lodging near cancer centers, etc. The need for personal interaction among patients and family caregivers was not being met via internet message boards and forums, thus Appendix Cancer and Pseudomyxoma Peritonei patients and their families created the PMP Pals' Network, providing opportunities for patients and families to personally meet, talk via the telephone (and eventually SKYPE), send personal letters, and exchange direct email with one another.
  
  During the past twelve years, the PMP Pals Network of volunteers has expanded to include 46 countries and assists patients in 12 languages.
  
  PMP Pals' Network Privacy Policy and Disclaimer  
    
  Your email address will not be sold or given to any third parties, nor will the PMP Pals' Network use it for any reason other than to keep you informed about Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, Appendix Cancer and related diseases.
  
  
• Visitors to www.pmppals.org are encouraged to discuss publications and information contained herein with their licensed, professional healthcare providers. The information provided on www.pmppals.org is not intended as a replacement for licensed, professional medical or legal advice.
  
  The PMP Pals' Network does not endorse any specific healthcare providers, treatments, procedures or products. The PMP Pals' Network is not responsible for accuracy of content published on third party sites.
   
•  
  Our Policy on the use of Colloquialisms
  
  
• The PMP Pals' Network believes that Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, and related diseases, as well as the medical treatment of these diseases, should be addressed and treated with the respect deserved of any other cancerous or chronic illness diagnosis.
  
  
• It is with this philosophy, the PMP Pals' Network does not utilize the use of colloquialisms or "slang" descriptions when describing our disease(s), or associated medical treatment(s.)
  
  
• We believe that the use of colloquialisms in reference to our diseases) and treatment(s) is disrespectful to our fellow patients and to their family caregivers.
  
  
• We believe that the use of colloquialisms in reference to our disease(s),
  and to its treatment(s), is detrimental to the recognition of the seriousness
  of this disease by:
  
  
• Health insurance providers,
  Clinical trial researchers and their funding sources,
  The medical community at large, and
  The public, in general.
  
  
• Therefore, the use of colloquialisms is not included, nor allowed in publications or communications
  throughout our Network. Throughout our website, and in our published and verbal communications,
  we use the following descriptions, nouns and adjectives and request that our subscribing members (“Pals”)
  do so also:
  
  
• Pseudomyxoma Peritonei is referred to as:
• 1) Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (preferred description)
  2) “PMP” (abbreviated second choice)
  
  
• Surgery is referred to as Peritonectomy, Cytoreductive Surgery or CRS
  
  
• Heated chemotherapy is referred to as HIPEC
  
  
• Mucin and mucinous tumors are referred to as mucin and mucinous tumors.
• 
  
  
  HIPAA Policy*
  
  We follow HIPAA policy guidelines with patients and family caregivers of all nations regardless of the privacy laws, or lack of, from individual countries. All subscribing members of the PMP Pals' Network are required to follow the HIPAA guidelines and must respect each patient and family caregiver's confidentiality.

The PMP Pals’ Network has assisted thousands of patients, family caregivers and healthcare providers in 45 countries, and in multiple languages, since 1998, regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender.

We neither solicit, nor receive, funding from cancer centers, cancer societies or physicians who treat our disease.
We support our program services through our subscription membership dues and from the generosity of our friends and families.

We invite YOU to visit our SUBSCRIPTION MEMBERSHIPS page and become a” PAL” today! test

Thank you for your interest in the PMP Pals’ Network!