Cancer

Treatment Plan

The plan is 12 cycles of FOLFIRI chemotherapy, given every other week, for a total of approximately 24 weeks. Timing may shift if bloodwork requires a pause — the liver gets a vote.

After 3 cycles, early scans confirmed the cancer is responding to treatment — the tumors are shrinking. Chemotherapy is continuing on schedule.

Imaging after Cycle 8 will provide a more detailed assessment of response and help determine the path forward, including whether surgery is viable.

• If scans show continued response, chemotherapy continues to completion.
• If response is insufficient, the plan will be reassessed.

As of March 25, 2026, I am on Cycle 6 of 12.

Surgery After Chemotherapy

If chemotherapy remains effective and disease burden is low enough after the final cycle, major surgery is the next step. There is typically an 8-week recovery window between the last chemo infusion and surgery to allow the body to rebuild before a major operation.

Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) ± HIPEC

This procedure targets 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, high-risk operation. It is only offered when the potential benefit justifies it.

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

Surgery is only offered if:

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

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Treatment Schedule

A running reference for what's been done and what's coming. Updated as things change.