Marian Camille Finn

October 21, 1973 – January 15, 2024

Marian was diagnosed with Stage IV appendix cancer in August 2020 at 46 years old. Her specific cancer was Goblet Cell Carcinoid which only 1 person in 2 million are diagnosed with annually. Any symptoms were mild and the beginning of Covid may have cost precious time in early diagnosis, but we will never know. She lived a very long 3 1/2 years full of chemo treatments, surgeries, disappointing doctor visits, and brutal complications. I have no doubt she lasted as long as she did out of incredible willpower to see her children grow and be with me.

It is my hope that funding research for appendix cancer, especially as it becomes more and more common for middle-aged women, that early detection can become common and cancer treatments become more specialized. Marian was always treated as a colon cancer patient as there is no specific chemo, treatment, or cure for her type of cancer. Goblet Cell is undetectable through MRIs or any imaging making treatment and management incredibly difficult. The mental and physical anguish of the path Marian was forced down was exhausting. Please consider supporting this little-known and underfunded cause now and in the future to improve care and treatment so others don’t suffer the way Marian did.

Marian was a vibrant, intelligent, beautiful, fit, and professional woman. She was an independent thinker who read diligently, always striving to make herself and her family secure and happy. She was a wife, mother, sister and daughter from a wonderful Irish/Italian family hailing from New York. She made a beautiful life in Los Angeles with me, her husband, the love of her life. She was strikingly beautiful with green eyes and dark hair. She was a wonderful planner of vacations, weekends and activities. She loved organizing and making a beautiful home. She was curious about other people and their lives.

She and I met on New Year’s Eve of 1999 and started talking. She had no interest in a long-distance relationship but after my visit to NYC from LA in March of 2000, we never looked back. I fell in love with her during that 3-day visit. In 2001 just before 9/11 she moved to LA to be with me…although at the time she claimed “just to try something new”. She always missed New York City but our life together in Los Angeles was beautiful. We shared triumphs and challenges in our careers with each other, always supportive and loving as best friends and champions of each other’s goals. We were married in 2006 in Cape Cod.

Marian was not in a hurry to become a mother but when she decided that she wanted to start a family she loved her children deeply. Always planning ahead to make holidays, birthdays or any occasion special. She paved a beautiful path for her two boys to become good, smart, respectful men. Her time was too short for her to see where life will take them. She looked forward to the time of first girlfriends, budding academic interests, and taking them on college visits. It is my hope to continue to help fund research for appendix cancer for more understanding and, of course, irradiation of this disease.

About Appendix Cancer and Goblet Cell Adenocarcinoma
Goblet cell adenocarcinoma (GCA) of the appendix is a subtype of appendiceal cancer. GCA is defined by a unique combination of two types of cancer cells – neuroendocrine (carcinoid) and epithelial (adenocarcinoma). These tumors are more aggressive than neuroendocrine tumors and are now treated and staged like appendiceal adenocarcinomas. They are extremely rare, with an estimated incidence of 1 per 2 million individuals.

ACPMP is dedicated to (1) funding and supporting research to find a cure for Appendix Cancer and PMP and (2) funding educational programs to educate physicians and patients/caregivers & their families about these diseases. Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Research Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax-deductible according to U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We’ll send it to you upon successful completion of your donation.