Rick Fights Again - Colon Cancer Recurrence

Hello all - I'm Emily - Rick's girlfriend. Some of you may be shocked to learn that Rick has previously fought Stage 3b Colorectal Cancer. He was diagnosed in early 2020 but kept it tightly under wraps. The cliff notes version of that fight is that after nearly eight months of chemo and radiation and three separate surgeries, Rick was declared cancer-free in August 2021.

Fast forward to February 14, 2023, during a dilation procedure to help alleviate some long-standing complications and discomfort with LARS (Low Anterior Resection Syndrome - the final surgery he had in August 2021), a mass was detected and biopsied. Two days later, it was confirmed to be cancer again.

On February 17, Rick went into Oncology for his annual CT scan and blood work (talk about timing!) Four business days later, the results of his scan were received:

He's currently waiting to be scheduled for a PET scan to know the "intensity" (aka stage and possible spread) of the tumor and learn more about the lesion on his lung. After that, his oncologist expects him to start an aggressive chemo regimen (hopefully sans radiation) in two weeks, for 3-4 months, and then assess the tumor to see if he will be ready for surgery. If not, Rick will need another 3-4 months of chemo.

One thing that is 100% sure - no matter the stage or spread of this cancer - the financial burden will be huge. I beg for your support - whether by donating or sharing this page with your network - to help ease the financial stress while he is in treatment and recovering. The first bout of cancer depleted him financially. Two of his three sources of income (that make up 80% of his earnings) are physically demanding, and he will be unable to perform while undergoing chemo and recovering from surgery/ies. Yesterday (February 27), he commented that he is more concerned about getting through this financially than fighting cancer. How heartbreaking is that?

YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION WILL SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING:

ADDITIONAL WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT RICK:

Life has not been the easiest nor kindest to Rick for most of his life. His first cancer journey was even more lonely and harder, driving himself to and from chemo/radiation treatments and waking up from surgery with nobody at his bedside (Covid). He admitted to me recently that he lost the will to survive during his first cancer journey. He can't fall back into that darkness again. So, the last two weeks have been physically, mentally, and emotionally tumultuous - and treatment hasn't even begun.

Will you please help me, help him, in making sure cancer doesn't take everything away from him for a second time?