Surgery Update 7:16 pm

Surgery started at 9:15 am. About 3 hours later Dr. Sugarbaker came out and spoke with us. He stated that he had made 2/3 of the surgical incision. It was apparent to him that the chemo he had done for 7 cycles had not worked. He was filled up with hundreds of mucous sacs of cancer. In other words the cancer kept regrowing despite the chemo. He also found the spot from the CT scan down by the pelvis region. It was a tumor the size of a tennis ball.

We all agreed to follow a curative plan of action. This would require removing all of the cancer bit by bit. It would require another 10 hours of surgery. He would also be removing any organs deemed not vital, removing more of his colon, removing the tumor, and putting in a colostomy bag.

At approximatley 3:10 the nurse called that they had stripped both sides of his diaphram, took out his spleen, and removed the fatty tissue that covers his colon.

At approximatley 7:00 pm we were told his vitals signs were good and they were finishing up chemo and then they were going to put his bowels back together. They said it would take another one to two hours and then the Doctor would be out to talk to us. Will make another posting as soon as the surgery is over and we have talked to Dr. Sugarbaker. Please continue to keep Matt in your prayers!