Mindy -
I just found your initial post, even though it hasn't been long. I'm so sorry for you and your mom and all of your family in dealing with this diagnosis, and I remember how blindsided I felt almost 6 months ago when it happened to me. I was 58 at diagnosis, healthy and active when my bile duct backed up, sending me to the hospital and ultimately to surgery to clear the blockage. My gallbladder was removed, and gallbladder cancer was diagnosed. Recovering from the surgery these almost 6 months has gone well, although I still have tenderness. The first post-surgery CT scan, 6 weeks later, did not indicate spread of the disease, and I had a second clean scan in September. I go again next week, and hope to get a good scan again. I feel good, I'm back at work, and except for dealing with the diagnosis and recovery from surgery, life is almost "normal." So, as so many of those posting here have said, the progression of this disease is different for everyone. I am so glad that your mother is going to Houston to see doctors familiar with the disease, because that seems very important.
So, keep up hope, don't believe everything you read about the disease, remember that everyone is different in their progression, and educate yourself as much as you can without getting depressed. Best to you and your mother, and keep us all posted on her progress. If you go to my blog (www.dahlborg.blogspot.com), you will find links to some of the places to get additional information.
Lynne