Thanks Chris! I'm glad you're cancer-free. I hope there will come a point where, aside from the recommended colonoscopies and such, you can rest easy and not worry about a recurrence. I also appreciate your cheer, and your handsome smiling photo. :)

As for Mom's recovery from surgery, aside from one awful day of nausea/vomiting on April 11 (the day after she came home), she is doing splendidly and we are in good spirits. She's running around like always. We had a follow-up on April 13 and the pathology report shows her at T2, N1, Stage 3 (whereas the surgeon had told us T3 on the phone, so this a a wee bit more hopeful.) Her surgeon even canceled next week's follow-up appointment.

I've done my best to extract info from the oncology office. Looks like the April 26 appointment is indeed just a consult, and the infusion nurse (the only person willing to give me any answer other than "it depends", to any question I pose...you know how it goes...) told me that chemo will likely begin within a week or two of that appointment. We didn't discuss method of administration (injection, infusion, pills, etc.), but 5-FU or FOLFOX are likely candidates for the regimen. She told me that it is "gentler" than other chemotherapies, with likely side effects of mouth sores, hand and foot disease (whatever that means), and nausea. She was unable to tell me whether effects were likely to be immediate or cumulative. I've decided to take a gamble for my own sanity...I'm headed to Arizona April 25 (unfortunately the day prior to the consult) and return May 16 (likely also missing her first treatment or two). But this will allow me to adequately prepare for a possible 6-month stay in New Hampshire for the duration of her treatment cycle (I had only packed for three weeks, for her surgery).

The primary logistical and emotional complications are my DAD's multiple cancers and medical decrepitude (is that a word?). In fact I think my major near-breakdown thus far was the day after mom's surgery. I had spent the night in her room. Dad returned the next day to retrieve me, but ended up in the E.R. with a severe migraine, which spiraled when his IV site wouldn't stop bleeding until after midnight. (They had actually discharged him while he was still bleeding, then he squirted blood all over Mom's room, then they had the nerve to charge him for a SECOND admission to the E.R.! I raised a good bit of hell and I think they rethought things when I asserted that he had been improperly discharged in the first place.) So I got to see Mom in the worst pain ever (the previous day), then Dad in the worst pain ever (when they applied a tourniquet to his elbow). But, we're tough stoic New Englanders...I'll continue posting as things occur, both as support and somewhat of a timeline for myself, and for anyone who might find it helpful either now or in some future "colon cancer" tribe search. Thanks everyone, sorry such a long post...(should I feel guilty or are ranting and unnecessary detail welcome in this tribe? )
Love, Jeau :)