So I finally got permissions organized and got to speak to the Oncologist's nurse...the news is not good, but it feels good to at least have the real information.
Her cancer is stage 4, having spread to lymph nodes and also the membranous tissue (can't remember the name) that covers the intestines. They removed a lot of lymph nodes when they took out the tumor, but the current chemo is to ensure that the rest of the lymph system is cancer free.
After that, if her strength allows, the next step is another major procedure to "belly wash" the membrane. Evidently the details of this and her condition (after 50 years of Crohn's disease) mean that she would have to go to a specialist in NYC.
If she is not strong enough for the next procedure, then chemo becomes a semi-permanent thing to keep the cancer in the membrane under control.
Their biggest concern right now is to keep her hydration and nutrition levels up so that she can complete the first round of chemo (through the end of the year), and get her strong enough to do the next step. If she isn't strong enough, then it can't be done...and then it's just a matter of time.
The nurse said that the oncologist describes her case as "extremely complicated" due to the long term Crohn's and the condition of (what remains of) her small intestine.
She will be going home (once strong enough) with an IV of fluids and TPN to wear at night. This should help keep her baseline nutrition up enough to keep her stable, and give her a chance to gain some if she can eat solid food and keep it down.
It feels pretty awful, and not terribly hopeful...but at least I feel like I have the truth now...and that helps.
Today is her birthday....she is 71.