Alicia Parlette
Encyclopedia
Alicia Rose Parlette was a journalist
and copy editor who was diagnosed with alveolar soft part sarcoma
in 2005 while employed by the San Francisco Chronicle
newspaper.
At the age of 16, Parlette began experiencing pain in the area of her right hip that forced her to drop out of cross country running
. An MRI
scan revealed a spot that was interpreted as a hemangioma
. Six years later, after she developed a severe cough, further scans showed spots in her lungs. Half a year later, she developed a lump in her right breast, which was excised
and biopsied
, leading to the correct diagnosis of the cancer she had probably been carrying for at least seven years.
After learning of being afflicted with this rare form of cancer
, Parlette began a diary of her treatment titled "Alicia's Story", the first installment of which was carried by the San Francisco Chronicle on June 5, 2005. The series won Parlette the Laxalt Distinguished Writer Award in 2005. The first seven installments of the series were published as a book of the same name in 2005.
On March 9, 2007, the San Francisco Chronicle published the final installment of "Alicia's Story" under the title "Cancer. Despair. And now, a blog." In this installment, Parlette explained that she no longer would remain a "full-fledged employee of Hearst Newspapers" and instead would be continuing to share her story as a public blog
on the Chronicles website. On August 17, 2007, Parlette posted her last entry on the website.
and was reported by another cancer survivor as doing well, "she looks healthy and vibrant".
On April 13, 2010, a post on the page described Parlette's current condition:
, aloud to her; she died twenty minutes after the last chapter was finished.
in San Francisco on the evening of May 10, 2010. During the reading of an excerpt from To Kill a Mockingbird, there was a break in the rainy weather, with the skies opening and the sighting of a rainbow to the east over downtown San Francisco.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and copy editor who was diagnosed with alveolar soft part sarcoma
Alveolar soft part sarcoma
Alveolar soft part sarcoma, abbreviated ASPS, is a very rare type of soft tissue sarcoma, that grows slowly and whose cell of origin is unknown.It arises mainly in children and young adults...
in 2005 while employed by the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
newspaper.
At the age of 16, Parlette began experiencing pain in the area of her right hip that forced her to drop out of cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
. An MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
scan revealed a spot that was interpreted as a hemangioma
Hemangioma
A hemangioma of infancy is a benign self-involuting tumor of endothelial cells, the cells that line blood vessels. It usually appears during the first weeks of life and sometimes resolves by age 10. In more severe case hemangioma may have permanency, if not treated by a physician...
. Six years later, after she developed a severe cough, further scans showed spots in her lungs. Half a year later, she developed a lump in her right breast, which was excised
Lumpectomy
Lumpectomy is a common surgical procedure designed to remove a discrete lump, usually a benign tumor or breast cancer, from an affected man or woman's breast...
and biopsied
Biopsy
A biopsy is a medical test involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically...
, leading to the correct diagnosis of the cancer she had probably been carrying for at least seven years.
After learning of being afflicted with this rare form of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, Parlette began a diary of her treatment titled "Alicia's Story", the first installment of which was carried by the San Francisco Chronicle on June 5, 2005. The series won Parlette the Laxalt Distinguished Writer Award in 2005. The first seven installments of the series were published as a book of the same name in 2005.
On March 9, 2007, the San Francisco Chronicle published the final installment of "Alicia's Story" under the title "Cancer. Despair. And now, a blog." In this installment, Parlette explained that she no longer would remain a "full-fledged employee of Hearst Newspapers" and instead would be continuing to share her story as a public blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
on the Chronicles website. On August 17, 2007, Parlette posted her last entry on the website.
Appearances and health updates
On November 13, 2008, Parlette attended a book reading by Kelly CorriganKelly Corrigan
Kelly Corrigan is a writer living in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Edward Lichty, and their two daughters. She is a graduate of The University of Richmond and San Francisco State University .- Cancer Outreach :...
and was reported by another cancer survivor as doing well, "she looks healthy and vibrant".
Decline in health
In early April 2010, Parlette's health took a turn for the worse. Her friends set up a site to gather donations and give updates on her health.On April 13, 2010, a post on the page described Parlette's current condition:
- "...her lung tumors have grown to the point where she needs to be on oxygen full time to function...Even with the oxygen, she is struggling to breathe. In addition, Alicia has a fracture in her right hip, the side where her large tumor is. Consequently, she is in bed 24/7. Neither the breathing nor the hip problems are fixable or reversible. Her oncologist has recommended no further treatment."
- "Parlette is conscious, eating and drinking, chatting with visiting friends, snuggling with her dog Clarabelle, and napping. Her pain is well-managed and she is comfortable, considering the circumstances."
- "To be perfectly blunt, it's hard to say how much time she has left. Her doctor explained that her health problems are compounded further each day."
Death
On April 22, 2010, Parlette died at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, at the age of 28. During her final days, her friends read her favorite book, To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. It was instantly successful, winning the Pulitzer Prize, and has become a classic of modern American literature...
, aloud to her; she died twenty minutes after the last chapter was finished.
Public memorial
A public memorial was held for Parlette at Lafayette ParkLafayette Park, San Francisco, California
Lafayette Park is a small park in San Francisco, California, USA. It is located in the neighborhood Pacific Heights between the streets Washington, Sacramento, Gough and Laguna. Located on a hill in a residential area it offers view towards other parts of the city....
in San Francisco on the evening of May 10, 2010. During the reading of an excerpt from To Kill a Mockingbird, there was a break in the rainy weather, with the skies opening and the sighting of a rainbow to the east over downtown San Francisco.
External links
- Parlette's Blog
- Twitter Page
- Facebook Page
- SFGate.com: Alicia's Story
- Alicia Parlette's SFGate.com Blog
- Parlette's podcasts: 6/29/05 and 12/22/05