Two weeks into 2023, Lucas went to the doctor for more testing to deal with ongoing abdominal issues. A CT scan suggested a large mass in his colon that metastasized to his lymph nodes and the peritoneum (the membrane lining the cavity of the abdomen). A colonoscopy the next Friday confirmed colorectal cancer. The following week, Lucas received a life saving surgery for a bowel obstruction caused by the size of the tumor in his colon. The surgical team performed a diversion and Lucas was in the hospital for about a week. Alex and Lucas are so lucky to live one mile away from a Comprehensive Cancer Center (The University of Virginia). They met with his oncologist briefly in the hospital. The care plan is to start chemo next week. Lucas will get an infusion every other week for six months to shrink the tumors. If all goes well, he will have surgery to remove what's left of the cancer. The official meeting with the oncologist is on Monday, February 6th. Alex and Lucas have made many journeys together: They met on a northbound section hike of the Appalachian trail, worked at McMurdo station in the Antarctic, spent six months tramping in New Zealand and Australia and lived on Pentecost Island (Vanuatu) for two years. Their current journey is homeschooling two beautiful children on an urban homestead...and now a new challenge: Fighting Cancer. Alex and Lucas invite you to be a part of this leg of their journey. If you are curious about their early adventures prior to having children, please check out: http://ourantarctica.blogspot.com/