Cancer

Treatment Plan

The current plan is 12 cycles of chemotherapy, given every other week, for a total of approximately 24 weeks if there are no delays. Because chemotherapy can be hard on the liver, treatment timing may change if bloodwork requires a pause.

I will be scanned after 5 cycles to evaluate how the cancer is responding.

• If the scans show the tumors are shrinking or clearly responding, chemotherapy will continue to completion.
• If the response is insufficient, the plan will be reassessed.

I've completed 3 of 12 chemo treatments as of January 17th, 2026.

Surgery After Chemotherapy

If chemotherapy is effective and the overall disease burden is low enough, major surgery may be considered.

Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) ± HIPEC

This procedure is used to treat peritoneal (abdominal lining) disease.

• Surgeons remove all visible cancer within the abdominal cavity.
• This may involve portions of the colon, peritoneum, omentum, or other affected tissues.
• Liver tumors, if present and treatable, are addressed separately through resection or ablation.
• In selected cases, heated chemotherapy (HIPEC) is circulated within the abdomen for approximately 60–90 minutes to target microscopic disease.

This is a complex and physically demanding operation and is only offered when the potential benefit justifies the risk.

Recovery Expectations

• Surgery time: approximately 8–14 hours
• ICU stay: often 1–3 days
• Total hospital stay: about 10–21 days
• Temporary drains or feeding tubes are common
• Fatigue, weakness, and muscle loss are expected during recovery

Most people return to baseline daily function within 3–6 months, with full recovery taking up to 12 months.

When This Surgery Is Considered

This surgery is only offered if:

• Chemotherapy demonstrates the cancer is responsive
• The amount and location of disease make complete removal realistic
• The patient is medically and physically fit for major surgery and recovery

How to Help