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

Hi Jane 3 and a half weeks ! I am two weeks post kidney removal and very emotional waiting for results i was told two weeks 

Hope youare managing the injection. 

Good that you. can now move about.

Today is the day for the nrxt phase

I have got some Emla cream which has been a game changer! Much less painful so I am coping a lot better thank you.

Hope you are doing well too? x

A lobectomy is unnerving. Nonetheless, what I found particularly helpful was being in a ward with other women who were going/ had gone through the same process. Often we prefer privacy but community really helps.
Do take reading material, charging cables for any electronics you have because televisions in most hospitals are dire and there are sizeable fees.

Hi MizPickle 

Welcome to the Online Community and thank you for sharing your experience.

You might find it helpful to join the lung cancer forum where you can share experiences and support. We agree that a community can really help!

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Members looking for help with what to take with them to hospital might also benefit from reading our blog 'What to pack for hospital'.

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I had a right hemicolectomy, removal (the ascending colon) on 10th December. 

Apart from the cancer and about 15 inches of bowel, 33 lymph nodes and my appendix  were removed.

It wasn't such a big deal as I had imagined. 

I was told it would be keyhole surgery and a resection, but sometimes there are complications and there was a possibility of having a stoma and colostomy bag. 

That was my biggest dread. But I didn't have one, and for that I am terribly grateful.

My surface scars are almost healed, but my abdomen is very lumpy and swollen.

 I can't wear anything tight: full length t shirts or large sized lounger bottoms are the most comfortable. I am still sore internally. Stretching, lifting, twisting and bending are hard and I am probably overdoing it. Walking is fine. My appetite is huge. I am slightly constipated but know that straining is not an option. 

I agree that waiting for biopsy results is tough, you are in limbo. I learnt the great news that I am cancer free under a week ago and not to have chemo.. I was expecting it as the normal procedure. 

I a happier bunny than I was, though I will be vigilent. It was due to recognising my body changes that I caught it before it had spread.

Thank you for sharing your experience Salbodecott 

I hope you can find some support from joining and posting in the Bowel (colon and rectal) cancer forum .

I'm sure you've taken some time to explore the Community as there's different ways you can access support here. Alongside speaking to members in our Community groups, there's the Ask an Expert section where you can ask questions to the Nurses and Cancer Support Advisors.

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Hi  sal... Can I ask how old are you?? Am 50 years old and going for right hemicoloctomy in 8 days time... Very nervous and was wondering if age plays a big part in recovery...am also worried my bowels will never be the same again 

Hello moro

I am sure you're nervoous. I was too.

You'll be absolutely fine. I am 79, A very young looking and fairly fit person but I told the surgeon I was worried about my age, and whether recovery would be slow and complications more likely.

She said because I was fit and fairly slim. a resection would be most probable and the fact that the cancer had not spread.

I can't know about your bowels. I have severe diverticulitis as well and before cancer was discovered I was going to have a sigmoid colectomy. But that was shelved as the cancer was an urgent operation.

I have to live with diverticular disease and my bowels have been erratic for 3 years.

Because I am on opiatesfoor back pain, I am constipated, mostly. Apparently one usually suffers with diarrhoea after a colectomy but not me. 

I can say that 5 weeks on, I went today for a 2 mile walk with a lovely labrador I walked 3 times a week, until becoming ill in September. 

Fifty is young! I was told the oldest patient the team had operated on was 92!

So the very best of luck. Stay positive if you can.