11/19/2025
Two years after a hip replacement, 70-year-old retiree and grandmother of six Karen Woodward received an unexpected diagnosis: a large, rare pelvic tumor. Thanks to a specialized procedure and expert, interdisciplinary care at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, she’s now disease-free.
When Karen began feeling unwell, her doctor ordered an MRI that revealed a pelvic mass more than 8 inches in diameter pressing on her uterus. She met with her gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Edward A. Jimenez, and quickly underwent a radical hysterectomy. Pathology confirmed a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN)—a tumor that originates in the appendix and can spread throughout the abdomen, causing pseudomyxoma peritonei, a condition that disrupts organ function and digestion.
Fortunately, Karen’s tumor presented with a favorable outcome. She returned to the operating room with surgical oncologist Dr. Zachary Brown, who removed the remaining tumor and performed hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a specialized heated chemotherapy technique designed to prevent the cancer from coming back.
Today, Karen is grateful to be living cancer-free and spending time with her family, grandchildren, and friends. She credits her entire care team for their compassion and positivity throughout her treatment. “It sounds corny, but it gives me more of an appreciation for health and life,” she says.
