Richard Larson

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement.  As most of you know, about a year and a half ago Rick was diagnosed with PSC - Primary Schlerosing Cholangitis.  It is a disease of the Bile Duct System.  It is a very rare disease and to date there is no cure.  One of the many possible complications of PSC is Cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the bile duct.  This past August we traveled to the Mayo Clinic to consult with the experts there and it was confirmed that he has a small tumor in the Bile Duct immediately adjacent to his Liver.  We are traveling to Rochester, MN (Mayo Clinic) - leaving September 23rd, so that he can have treatment there as they are the foremost Cholangiocarcinoma Team in the nation.  We feel fortunate to be able to have his treatment there.  The treatment will consist of Chemotherapy, Radiation and finally Targeted Radiation which is done internally.  Before the treatment begins, he will be undergoing evaluation (consisting of some 28 appointments & procedures) for a Liver Transplant.  Assuming he is a viable candidate, he will be placed on the Organ Registry and hopefully will have a transplant in the coming year or two.  Rick is feeling well, and the Dr. says that patients generally tolerate the treatments we are embarking on very well.  He is optimistic and so are we.  We will be staying in a 1911 home owned by the Mayo Clinic called "Gift of Life Transplant House" with others going through the same journey.  We expect it will be a very comfortable place to stay and look forward to meeting & sharing with others in our same situation.  It will be challenging, but everyone at the Mayo and the Gift of Life House have been wonderful, so kind, helpful, organized and efficient.   People travel from all over the world to be treated there, so we know we are in good hands.   We will try to regularly keep you posted on how things are going and how both of us are managing this new adventure.   Thanks again for all of your support and please continue to keep Richard in your prayers.