Help Doug Kocher Battle Cancer!

Hi, My name is JoAnn Kocher. I am raising money to help Doug Kocher, my husbands brother, battle cancer. In his sister Barb's words:

Our dear and kind brother, father, uncle and friend Doug Kocher has recently been diagnosed with a head and neck cancer called Oropharyngeal cancer. This is an oral cancer that has invaded his tongue, tonsils, throat, roof of his mouth and nasal passages as well as metastasized to his neck lymph nodes.

His doctor confirmed the cancer through biopsies and other diagnostic testing. Once she realized the scope and spread of the cancer, she placed an urgent referral to Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and ENT. In the last 8 days we have made 3 overnight trips to the Mayo. After extensive testing by the amazing Mayo team a treatment plan has been established for Doug. It will begin on 10/2 when he undergoes an extensive surgery that will take all day and require two surgeons to work simultaneously removing the cancer and harvesting tissues and artery to rebuild Doug’s mouth and neck. He will be inpatient for roughly a week. When he is healed enough from surgery, he will begin Radiation and Chemo. This phase of the treatment will be administered five days a week for 6 to 8 weeks and will be done at the Mayo due to their advanced technology and expertise with this type of cancer. His long-term care will include speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and dental appointments every 3 months post radiation treatment. Doug has been told by his doctors that he will be unable to work for a minimum of 6 months, possibly longer depending on how the cancer responds to this treatment and how well rehabilitation goes. His family and girlfriend are committed to seeing Doug through this difficult journey and intend to be by his side every step of the way. We humbly ask for your financial help to see Doug through his journey along with us. If you can contribute Doug and his family would be eternally grateful.

The other way to see Doug through this is keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. Doug loves his community and is eager to beat this so he can return to seeing the smiling faces he has come to know and love.

God’s Blessing’s to you all,

The Kocher Family