Manon Collins Manon Collin's Journal

Welcome to Manon's CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. This is Glenn Sieber.  While I will be the primary author for the site, Manon may also be posting some updates (and reprimanding me if I offer too much detail).  We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. 

On July 30, 2021, Manon was diagnosed with Stage 3 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (fancy medical words for liver bile duct cancer) that has spread to nearby lymph nodes. We have visited numerous oncologists and surgeons at Bristol Hospital, Hartford Hospital and Mass General Hospital (in Boston).  All have agreed the best way forward is for Manon to receive 4 - 6 months of chemotherapy (using 3 aggressive chemotherapy drugs - gemcitabine, cisplatin and nab-Paclitaxel which have proven effective for treatment of advanced biliary tract cancers), followed by surgery to remove the tumors and then (potentially) followed by radiation.  Since her diagnosis, Manon has had  2 stents and a catheter inserted in her bile ducts to enable the liver to work properly during chemo. 

As you would expect from Manon, she is approaching this treatment regimen with her usual confidence, passion and smile.  Her boys, Jacob and Aaron, are strong and confident as well and are a great source of strength,support and love for Manon.

Given the number of people who love and care for Manon, I have not been able to keep up with the emails, texts and phone calls ... so Manon has given me permission to start this Carbridge site (and I needed her permission first because she can hurt me)!  I will endeavor to post updates as frequently as reasonably possible below.  Manon is understandably reticent to share detailed information ... so I will keep the updates at a summary level.  Please forgive me if I do not respond to your messages on a timely basis ... but the days seem incredibly short right now.  Please keep those prayers coming.