What do you wish you had known before you had surgery?

It helped to think that although surgery is a major thing for a cancer patient- for the surgeons it is something that they routinely do all the time. 

There was a lot of waiting around on the day of surgery and I was admitted to a ward where there were just chairs. It was only after the surgery that I was taken to a room with a bed in. I had very little pain which is something that I had worried about. To be honest the anticoagulant injections that I had do do daily into my tummy were far more painful than the surgery. I did not realise the extent of bruising I would have. 

A list of things to take to hospital would have been helpful. Loose comfy clothes, slip on shoes/slippers that you don't need to bend down for. Also things to do while you wait around. 

On the morning after surgery there was a lot of waiting around for the doctor to discharge me and then waiting for the oncology nurses to come and see me. Then it was the discharge paperwork and medication. 

I was also surprised at how soon I could do things. Although I had to be careful with any lifting or twisting movements I was able to go for short walks and do most things at home. I did have some fatigue but it was manageable. 

The most stressful time for me was waiting for the post op pathology results to come back- for me it took around 3 1/2 weeks and that was with a lot of chasing. It is these results that are important as they determine whether or not further treatment is needed. Before they came back you can be in a sort of limbo as to whether all the cancer has been removed and whether or not any follow up treatment is needed. 

Jane

jane2511 above is spot on with her post.

It was the one and only time I have had surgery so all new to me. An early check in at the hospital (07.00) and then off to the ward. I had the pre-op the week before and because of the surgery I was having (A TURP operation to reduce the size of my prostrate) a blood group match the day before.

The anesthetist was the first to visit me on the ward and as I am a type 2 diabetic I was first on the list. She gave me the choice of knocking me out or a spinal injection so I would be awake during the surgery - I took the latter - well you don't want to miss anything do you!!.

The surgeon was next. He asked me what I was there for and i told him what I was in for, why I needed it and how he was going to do it (you don't need to know this part ). He went away happy. I did ask him how many times he had done this surgery and his reply of 100's of times was encouraging.

Half an hour later I walked down to the operating theatre with my dedicated nurse. the surgery took just over an hour and the team kept me fully informed just what they were doing. Back on the ward for lunch, and then an afternoon nap. After a decent nights sleep I was done and dusted and back home the following lunch time.

What do I wish I had known before surgery?

* There's nothing to worry about - you are kept fully informed throughout your stay in hospital.

* The staff are there for you, they will answer questions, in my case provide a couple of extra coffees when needed too.

* You feel more comfortable in your own pajamas than the hospital issue and slippers and a dressing gown is a must.

* Take plenty of reading material - even a busy ward has quiet periods.

* The staff can sort out any pain relief you need - don't suffer in silence.

Best bit of advice - don't worry and trust the staff, they are all there for you.

Best wishes - Brian.

* I wasn't aware there was a post surgery review to make sure all was well.

I wish I’d known how badly affected my eating would be after surgery. 

i ended up having three surgeries.

Firstly a tracheostomy at the end of May, having been rushed to hospital with breathing issues.

Secondly a laranjectomy in June

Thirdly a salivary bypass tube in early July after my Laranjectomy surgery sprung a leak. It probable that my mouth was sown up more than necccessary due to the concern with the leak. 

Food and drink were amongst my greatest passions so it’s very frustrating that I’m restricted. Having said that I’m alive, cancer free  and my fitness is as good as it’s been for several years (I’m 67 mid December).

What i wished I  knew before surgery.  Was how it would  effect me physically  and emotionally and mentally. . It would have helped me  alot.  I Would have been more prepared. And would have coped  alot better. 

It’s the little things-,eg 4 hours of surgery left me with a sore swollen throat so stocking up on softer food and ice cream at home would have helped. I had thyroid surgery and didn’t realise it would be difficult to pull clothes over my head afterwards- soft clothes and button through tops work better. I need to sleep in a more upright position for a while so having the right pillows at home also helps.

I didn't realise what a long wait there may be on the day of surgery. A 7am arrival time may mean a wait all day. This might then mean a late arrival on a ward post surgery followed by a sleepless night if there is a lot going on with patients nearby. If you're being discharged the next day you can be exhausted. 

The best hints and tips come from people who have had a similar surgery, don't just rely on the hospital leaflet. It's tempting to discount some advice and think "oh I won't need that" only to find those in the know were quite right! They swee so right about big pants!  I never wear dresses but a friend said 'you are going to have to have a dress without fastenings and slip on shoes'. So glad I did as that was all I wore for quite a while afterwards. 

Be prepared for coming home and your recuperation as much as you can. Best case scenario you don't need any of it but if you are feeling rough it's really helpful to have things ready. 

had a cystoscopy on the 19 June found 3 tumors on the left side of bladder had them removed on the 14th July got the results back they were grade 3 to high but something was bothering the surgeon and asked me to come to have another cystoscopy under general  anaesthetic and found all the tumor had not been removed so had that removed then 4 weeks later started the induction finished in October had a ct scan November pre op should of had surgery on the 17th November gets back home gets a text to say operation is canceled due to the doctors strike then gets a call to say operation on the 1st December they found a new tumor said it was small and took 2 biopsy just waiting for the test results every time i've had an op i never stayed over night usually 2 hours tops then i get ready to come home which i prefer

Not sure if what im about to say helps or not really?

I had a radical robotic hysterectomy on the 9th Dec 2025. 

My attitude has been. If u can cut it out great cut it out, not everyone has that luxury.  . . If you can call it that?

But I was not warned enough about the pain i would be in after, or the lack of mobility or that I will need help on and off the toilet let's not even mention shower!

I had a robotic laparoscopic anterior resection in November, the surgery was 6 hours long, I had a spinal block and general anaesthetic.  The first 24 hours after surgery was relatively pain free with the spinal block still being effective and IV morphine.  48 hours after, the physios got me walking down the ward.  Day 2 & 3 are probably the worst in terms of lower stomach pains, thereafter each day got gradually better.  Day 4 I was passing urine Ok, burping and passing wind so I was allowed to go home.  My biggest worry was I hadn’t passed any solids so was apprehensive about this.  Once at home I had to really concentrate on eating and drinking the right things, having plenty of rest but getting out of bed for a short walk each day.  Day 6 I managed to pass my first stool with minimal discomfort.  Since then it has been trial and error reference what foods do and don’t agree with my new bowel configuration so toilet visits have been intermittent.  I have good and bad days ref pain management but the progress is in an upward trend.  Just waiting for my histology results to come back so fingers crossed .  

Hi everyone, 

I’m Emma from the Online Community Team. It’s fantastic to see so many great replies to this thread so thank you all for your contributions. 

Do keep sharing your experiences of what you wish you’d known before surgery. Your insights can be especially helpful for people who are preparing for surgery and may be feeling unsure about what lies ahead. 

Additionally, if you’d like to connect more closely with others who have the same cancer type, you can also join a specific cancer forum. These can be found via the community sitemap and can be a good space to connect with others who have similar experiences. 

If you have any questions, would like to be a guest blogger to share your individual story, or need additional support, please email community@macmillan.org.uk and we will be happy to help. 

All the best,