Surgery Tomorrow

Say this one three times fast - Pancreaticoduodenectomy.  This is the surgery my mom has tomorrow.  It could be anywhere from 6 to 12 hours long.  There are two options - 
Option 1 - Cancer is only in the bile duct.  They will resect and repair any damaged tissue.  They will also remove part of the liver that has the metastatic breast cancer.  This is the most ideal option and what we are hoping for.  It would be 1-4 days in the ICU and a much shorter recovery at 3-4 weeks.  
Option 2 - Cancer has spread to other areas of the bowel.  This will require the pancreaticoduodenectomy with the removal of the gallbladder and then potentially parts of the small intestines and pancreas.  Basically whatever the cancer touches and whatever they can remove within reason will happen.  This is a much longer procedure where the recovery is 1-2 weeks in ICU and a 6 month recovery time at home.  


It's not hard to pick what option we are all hoping for.  I am going into this with a clear mind.  It's eerily similar to waiting in the hospital for the results that were never going to come for Jess.  She was in ICU for 4 days on a ventilator with minimal brain activity.  A much different picture than watching her walk down the aisle 6 weeks prior.  However, I am optimistic with this. It may be a different story when the surgeons consult with us on the extent of the cancer. I told most of my close friends in an email, I am not interested in tears or hugs, just to get out of this with minor fractures.