In early March 2020 Rich went for his 50-year-old colonoscopy. This was just a week before everything shut down due to Covid. Not sure what prompted him to follow-up and get checked, but we are so thankful he did. They found a lesion in his lower colon. Things happened very quickly from there. Scans, surgical consultations, and finally surgery. The plan for early-stage colon cancer is surgery only. They didn't recommend chemotherapy or radiation. However, the surgery was postponed twice due to Covid. The surgeon appealed to the hospital and Rich finally had his surgery on April 9th, 2020. The hospital was empty and he was just one of two surgeries on the board that morning at Christiana. I was allowed to wait in the surgical waiting room and see him in recovery for 15 minutes and wasn't going to be allowed to visit at all after that.
The plan was to do this laparoscopically and supposed to take 2 hours. That did not go as planned and they needed to do an open procedure (LAR). A simple 2-hour procedure turned into a 6 hours. The surgeon was confident he got everything, and it would just mean a slightly longer recovery and hospital stay for him.
He was in the hospital for 7 days and spent Easter Sunday with the nurses and was not allowed any visitors due to Covid. Fortunately, one of his old softball players was a nurse on his unit and he had someone to talk to. He came home and recovered over the next 6 weeks and everything seemed like it was going as planned. He was able to work and coach softball over the summer. He followed up with the doctor and got bloodwork every six weeks.
2021
A few of the follow up scans (CT and PET) were delayed due to Covid. In June 2021, his cancer markers came back slightly elevated. Scans confirmed a new tumor in the area outside of the colon.
After many consultations, much thought and prayer, Rich ended up at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Penn for treatment and eventual surgery. Their recommendation was Chemo, followed by Chemo and radiation, followed by surgery.
During the many scans to prepare for chemo, the doctors found a complex fistula in his colon. He had surgery that would allow the fistula to drain to prevent infection before chemo. This was an surgery would be a literal pain in the butt for the next few years.
He then had a port placed in his chest for chemo treatments. He went through 6 rounds of CAPEOX. Once every three weeks for six rounds he went for a 5 hour infusion in addition to taking oral chemotherapy drugs daily. Some of the side effects from this chemo mix were neuropathy and nausea. Upon completion of chemo, he had significant numbness in his feet, toes, and fingers. The only footwear he can wear now without pain is Crocs.
Once all of rounds of chemo were completed, it was time to start radiation therapy. One of the benefits and reasons for choosing the University of Penn was because they offered proton therapy. Proton therapy is a more targeted radiation and gives less exposure to the surrounding organs when administered. It took some doing, but proton therapy was finally approved for Rich in late November.
The proton therapy would be 30 sessions Monday – Friday at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine. My dad drove Rich into Philly for his daily proton sessions at 6am. He completed these sessions with just a few complications.
My sister was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer right before rich started proton therapy and had a major double mastectomy surgery mid-December.
2022
His surgery was on Feb 24th. He went in for a lower abdominal resection (LAR) but they were able to ressect the tumor without doing a colon resection. He recovered from that surgery with a few complications but got home in time to oversee the first high school softball practice on March 1st.
My sisters started her chemotherapy for her breast cancer in April and finished at the end of June.
Rich’s follow up scans in June showed no cancer. Bloodwork in July showed stable cancer markers.
In May 2022 Rich’s father was diagnosed with lung cancer. We moved his mom and dad in to live with us in August while he was undergoing treatments. Rich father finished his chemo and was getting daily radiation at Helen Graham in December.
In early December Rich had a routine CT scan that showed another tumor and confirmed with a PET scan. The new tumor was in his upper sigmoid colon. Third cancer in three years. This was hard to swallow because now we knew what road was ahead. Everyone was getting cancer at the same time. Rich’s dad lung cancer and my sister's breast cancer.
2023
Due to the holidays the tumor board meeting for Rich’s newest cancer was delayed a few times. The oncologist thought that it would be surgery and no chemo, and we were just waiting for the tumor board to meet and confirm. However, after the tumor board met, we were surprised to find out that they were recommending Rich go through another series of chemo with different drugs before surgery.
Rich went through 8 rounds of chemo (XELIRI) and finished up on May 2nd. We were so happy with his previous surgeon and the plan; however, she was going to be out on maternity leave over the summer. We reached out to the boss lady, head of surgery, and was able to consult with her and are so grateful she took on Rich’s case. She ran Rich through a series of scans and tests so she could decide IF the surgery was possible. After reviewing, she said she could do it, but it was going to be difficult, and some decisions couldn’t be made until they were in surgery.
Surgery was set for Aug 8/18 and after a 10-day hospital stay, Rich is home recovering.
Rich was discharged from the hospital Sunday afternoon (8/28). He had his first meal in 10 days on Saturday evening and tolerated it well into Sunday. He was going a bit stir crazy being in the hospital for so long and really wanted to be discharged.
Going 9 days without any food and surviving on ice chips is life changing. It certainly was a mental challenge more than anything. He felt his life prepared him for this and it reminded him of the commitment required to make a wresting season.
He is so happy to be home but has a bit more recovery in front of him. No BLT’S (Bending, Lifting, Twisting, Sitting Upright) for a few more weeks. Back to the hospital in about 10 days to get stiches out and see the surgeon.
Thank you to everyone for reaching out with encoragment during this difficult time. Please continue to pray for Rich during his recovery.
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