In May of 2022, Fran was diagnosed with a Stage 4, obstructive colon cancer tumor. The oncologist decided to do chemo to try and shrink the tumor and possibly do surgery at a later date. Without any treatment, prognosis would have been 3 months to live. After 9 rounds of a 12 round chemo treatment, new lung spots appeared that a radiologist said she couldn’t treat. The surgeon said he didn’t want to “Put you through the pain and torture of surgery if it would do no good.” After a new scan in February revealed no lung spots, surgery was scheduled! It WAS a torturous recovery, to say the least. Suddenly, after surgery in February 2023, and back on chemo, Fran’s colon cancer spread to a lesion on the brain with a new lung spot and lymph node that are cancerous as well. Stan, her husband, has already had 8 months with no income this past year due to having to take time off of the road to take care of her. (She finds the truck loads and takes care of paperwork, and he does all of the hauling.) First recovery, after covid and a hospital stay, then surgery to remove half her colon, half her liver, and gallbladder, a 30 day stay in the hospital for the worst case of colitis they have ever seen due to the chemo meds, and now, after a two week stay in the hospital for radiation on the new lesion. In addition to all else, the big rig (only source of income) went into the shop for warranty work on the transmission, and is still there with a $7300.00 bill for differentials, the personal vehicle just had to have $5500.00 of work done and they are waiting for the bill for two ambulance rides of 130 miles. Insurance and registration renewals are coming up as well and all savings are gone, and all credit cards are maxed out. They were going to do more chemo but, after a CT scan, they found inoperable tumors in the liver and cancerous lymph nodes in the abdomen. They are switching the chemo to one that will give her about 6 months or so to live if she can live through the side effects…(Cost $25,000 for 28 days! Hoping the manufacturer will help with it.)
