Diagnosis: Details of Maria's Condition

A list written by Rocky from the recorded conversation on May 5, 2010 with Dr. Lim:
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> * Mom's condition is cancer, specifically Ovarian Cancer and Primary Peritoneal Cancer.
> * The cancer has spread through the soft tissues of her entire abdomen and implanted itself in her diaphragm. In the CT scans, her abdomen looks as if it's full of gravel, the dark masses are too numerous to count. Her Gyno Oncologist, Dr. Lim, expects remove a larger amount of material in surgery, compared to what the CT scans indicate.
> * If she hadn't elected to have the surgery, her life expectancy is under 6 months.
> * The surgery is extensive. The surgery is very risky. It hasn't been an easy decision for my mom or the rest of us to make. But she will go through with it.
> * The surgery entails the full removal of her ovaries, tubes, uterus, a partial colectomy, removal of abdominal tissues and parts of her diaphragm. There is a chance that a full colostomy may be needed after the surgery, depending on the risk of infection during her recovery.
> * Post-surgery recovery of at least 14 days in hospital. We are praying that there are no complications or infections in the interim that would affect this timeline.
> * And then there's the chemotherapy treatment after the surgery – weekly treatments for the next 1 1/2 years. The effects will weaken immunity, make all her hair fall out, etc.
> * All of this, and there's still only a 50% chance that if she does survive this grueling regimen - she may live another 5 years or so.
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