SLIPPERY ROCK — Tiffany Frampton, director of the Slippery Rock Community Library, hasn’t been in the stacks lately. She’s been on leave since July as she battles a case of colorectal cancer.

It’s her second bout with cancer. In 2017, she was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.

“It started off as a mole on my back,” Frampton said. “Then it was a large tumor under my left forearm that was eroding the bone.”

“It just messed with everything. I was having trouble straightening my fingers,” she added.

Her first round with cancer ended her career in retail management, but her experience coupled with the elementary education degree she earned at Slippery Rock University enabled her to land a position as children’s program coordinator three years ago, before becoming the library’s director a year ago.

Then her cancer returned this spring. Scans for her previous melanoma turned up evidence of a tumor on her liver. Tests later confirmed she was suffering from stage 4 colorectal cancer.

Frampton said her doctors believe it wasn’t connected to her earlier cancer but just a result of unbelievably bad luck.

“Two stage 4 cancers in five years, I don’t wish that on anybody,” she said.

She started undergoing tests and biopsies that forced her to take a leave from the library in July.

“One thing I learned having cancer before, I thought I had to work and manage everything. It turned out I wasn’t doing anything well. I wanted to have a better balance this time,” Frampton said.

After undergoing six weeks of radiation treatment and taking chemo pills in August and September, Frampton began a course of chemotherapy the third week in October.

The schedule of a week of chemotherapy followed by a week off will continue until January when her doctors will reevaluate Frampton’s condition.

No matter the outcome, she said she still faces liver surgery and a colon resection that will necessitate her using an ileostomy bag for some time afterward.

The treatment has unwanted side effects.

“I’m extremely tired, the kind of tired I’ve never felt before,” said Frampton, who added the treatment also has given her digestive issues.

Fortunately, she said, her 21-year-old son, Tyler Holmes, has been there to aid in her situation.

“He balances work, going to college full time and helps me with cleaning, makes sure I eat, takes me to my doctor’s appointments,” she said. “He’s dealt with a lot being 21 years old.”

Also helping are the Friends of the Library organization, which has set up a spaghetti fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Slippery Rock Township Building, 155 Branchton Road.

Dinner proceeds will benefit the Slippery Rock Community Library, and the proceeds from raffling off of some 60 baskets will go toward Frampton’s medical expenses.

“My insurance pays for 80% of the expenses, but 20% of chemotherapy is still a giant expense,” Frampton said.

She said Friends of the Library members Stephanie Ralston and Julie Barkley set up the meal and basket raffles.

Some baskets contain items such as four tickets to a Pittsburgh Penguins game with parking money or an overnight stay at the Foxburg Inn or four tickets to Keystone Safari.

The women of Frampton’s church, Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Harrisville, have made 16 baskets, she said, and her sister, Amanda Lucco of Slippery Rock, has been involved in fundraising as well, selling T-shirts and preparing baskets.

Ralston, president of the friends group, said, “We decided a couple of months ago, as a group. We had the room booked already at the township building. After we set up the dinner, Tiffany’s cancer diagnosis came. We decided to do the basket raffle to benefit her,” Ralston said.

She said tickets are no longer available to be purchased online but will be available at the door the day of the dinner/raffle.

As for the future, Frampton said, “The doctors hesitate to look too far ahead. But I’m not overwhelmed, you know. This is something I’ve dealt with before.

“Also, I’m a person of faith. I lean on God. I lean on my church family,” she said. “You can’t change it. You just have to roll with it.”