Bowel Function Problem

Hello Dewibach,

Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Denise, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line. I’ve noticed you have also joined other forum groups and hope you are finding all these supportive and helpful.

I am sorry to read about your diagnosis of stage 3 sigmoid colon cancer and about the difficulties you are experiencing five weeks post-surgery.

As we Nurses here on the Macmillan support platform do not have access to NHS records, we would suggest you contact your Cancer Nurse Specialist (CNS) to seek more accurate guidance as your team is familiar with your medical history. However, if you experience high temperature, shivering, feeling hot and cold, feeling generally unwell, cough, feeling sick, have swelling or redness around the wound which might feel hot or have a strong smell or liquid oozing from the wound or loss of appetite to contact your treating team, your GP or 111 as these may be signs of infection post-surgery.

Changes to bowel habits, including difficulty emptying your bowel completely when you poo can be a side effect after surgery which can persist for months but can be managed. Your CNS will be able to offer more individualised management or can refer you to see a dietitian who may be able to offer you professional guidance.

If you wish you can read more about bowel changes after surgery on the Cancer Research website here.

I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.

The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

Best wishes, Denise

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

Ref: DK/HK