Alicia Parlette

Alicia Rose Parlette (January 11, 1982^[1] – April 22, 2010) was an American journalist and copy editor^[2] who was diagnosed with alveolar soft part sarcoma^[3] 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.^[4]

After learning of being afflicted with this rare form of cancer, Parlette began a diary of her treatment titled "Alicia's Story",^[4] the first installment of which was carried by the San Francisco Chronicle on June 5, 2005.^[5] The series won Parlette the Laxalt Distinguished Writer Award in 2005.^[6][7] The first seven installments of the series were published as a book of the same name in 2005.^[8][9]

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."^[10] In this installment, Parlette explained that she no longer would remain a "full-fledged employee of Hearst Newspapers"^[10] and instead would be continuing to share her story as a public blog on the Chronicle's website. On August 17, 2007, Parlette posted her last entry on the website.