Update from an email sent Week of March 3rd

We went to the Mayo Clinic last Friday to meet with an oncologist for a 2nd opinion. Mom had blood work done in the morning and then had a consultation session with an oncologist in the afternoon.

Tom, the kids & I meet them in Rochester which was really great. Alexis & Justice really can bring some cheer to the room :)

There were some positive things that we got out of the trip, the oncologist gave a similar chemotherapy treatment plan recommendation so it instilled confidence in the doctors that ultimately mom will be working with every week. Surgery is not an option because of there are too many tumors/liasions on her liver.

Some people have been asking about a liver transplant, this is also not an option, the drugs she would have to receive to accept the new liver would cause fast/aggressive growth of the cancer cells that would ultimately still be in her body.

She has either later stage III or stage IV colon cancer. The goal of her chemotherapy treatment is to maintain and/or shrink the tumors that are in her liver & kill any cancer cells that maybe in her colon. The Mayo Clinic's recommendation only made slight changes mostly w/ the timing.

We received more clarity around the side effects and just as we have been hearing...the chemotherapy for Colon Cancer is relatively tolerable (using their words). The goal is to maintain a good quality of life for Mom so at least 10 out of the 14 days she should feel pretty good, but it all depends on her reaction. She will be getting treatment every other Monday in Columbus...going home w/ a "fanny pack" for 46 hours & then she will be done until the next Monday.

Mayo is also going to check her progress and will suggest different treatment plans if they think it will help at Mom & Tim's request.