May 17, 2002

Stephen and Roselyn Karll present a check to Warshaw

Roselyn Karll doesn’t like the statistics about the kind of cancer she has. According to the American Cancer Society, about 30,300 people in the United States currently have pancreatic cancer, and more than 29,000 will die from the disease. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death.

Karll, who was diagnosed with the disease a year ago, continues to receive chemotherapy to control her cancer, which is inoperable. She is determined in her current battle, and she also is determined to do something to help others with this disease. She recently presented a check for $6,000 to her surgeon — Andrew L. Warshaw, MD, MGH surgeon-in-chief — to benefit his pancreatic cancer research fund. "I look at other cancer awareness efforts — like breast and colon cancer — and I see how vital it is to raise money," says Karll. "I think it’s wonderful that Dr. Warshaw does this kind of research for pancreatic cancer."

In fact, the MGH Department of Surgery, which Warshaw leads, is known internationally for the treatment of pancreatic disease. Warshaw pioneered the use of laparoscopy to identify patients with pancreatic cancer who would benefit from surgery.

"Other types of cancers have received a lot of attention and funding," says Warshaw. "Pancreatic cancer research traditionally has received a disproportionately low amount of funding relative to the impact the disease has on lives. There are few places like the MGH that have a focused interest in this kind of research and the expertise to do it. We as doctors and researchers depend on people like Roselyn to help fund this kind of research."

Karll’s donation is a result of her own determination to fight the disease and the support of many people in her community. A resident of Braintree, Mass., Karll is director of the Braintree After-School Enrichment (BASE) Program, which she established 16 years ago to help children and parents on the South Shore. For years, she has held an annual fundraiser for the BASE program, usually raising between $10,000 and $15,000. This year, Karll asked the board of directors for the program to donate a part of the proceeds to the MGH.

Karll received a tremendous outpouring of support from friends, family and members of the community — many of whom had children who had attended the BASE program. In fact, several MGHers who have cared for Karll during her frequent visits to the hospital also have children who went through the program, including Michael Manning and Tony Forgione, RN, both of MGH Operating Room Services.

Karll is grateful for the support she has received and has resolved to bring that kind of support to the MGH. "I’m a control freak," she says with a smile. "I want to control where this money goes when I give it to research efforts. Finding a cure someday can’t happen unless we fund the research. I can’t say enough about how lucky we are to have people like Dr. Warshaw to help find a cure."

To donate to the MGH research fund for pancreatic cancer research, send donations to the MGH Research Fund, Andrew L. Warshaw, MD, 55 Fruit St., White Building 506, Boston, MA 02114.