Is not having colon cancer surgery an option to avoid a stoma?

It is common to have a fear of the unknown we all do

Personally I was terrified  more of the Cancer I knew how that would pan out.  So I chose the surgeons choice of treatment 

When I woke up I felt my right hand side and there was the pouch. I smiled and thought I am alive the cancers in the bin and the stoma saved me 

Im a year on and fully enjoying travel abroad eating out and socialising. My clothes all fit in fact I dropped two sizes with the fluid I was carrying around whilst I had cancer

I am in control of my Ileostomy my bowel controlled me  I was close to blocking! The hours spent on the toilet for little success was draining  I was tired and fed up of staying in just in case 

Early days I took a couple of weeks to get into a routine. The stoma team were fantastic once I had the right products for me I was away with it. They’re there on the phone if I need them as are the colorectal team. I have felt fully supported every step. The NHS really have the bowel cancer treatment sorted. 

I hope my candid reply helps you make the right choice for you.

Just a thought 

Have you been told that you need a permanent stoma? I’m not a medic but I thought that wasn’t so common with colon cancer 

Hi Yoyo

I agree with Artsie that fear of the unknown is very common and completely normal.

For me, if I hadn’t had my surgery I would have died fairly quickly, so I took the plunge with surgery because I wanted to live more than I feared the operation. I had my surgery 2 years and 4 months ago and have 2 stomas as I also have a urostomy due to losing my bladder as part of my particular surgery. I live a very normal life, travel abroad, eat and drink what I want and manage both stomas well I think. 

I do know someone who refused my surgery-that didn't work out well. So for me, fear of stomas didn’t put me off, and a reduction in my life span wasn’t something I wanted actively to choose.

Living with stomas is just going to the toilet in a different way, ultimately. Surgery is hard, but recovery happens and life goes on. I’ve never once regretted it. I hope you will be able to overcome your fear and have the treatment you need.

Sarah xx

I had colon cancer almost 3 yrs ago and now have a permanent iliostomy.they really are easy to cope with and nothing to be afraid of.

What is it that is bothering you in particular ?.life with  a stoma is fine.you can eat,travel,swim,wear the same clothes etc just as before and with the lack of public loos nowadays,much easier.sorry to be flippant but a sense of humour always helps.

Do ask if there is a particular area of this that you would like more info on.also if you click on peoples user names you can read their bios to see how they got on.

All the best

Kath

Ps you mention a lack of support network.the hospital makes sure you can look after your stoma before you are discharged and there are always stoma nurses on the end of the phone (either at the hospital or from your stoma products supplier)so if you need any assistance its available.there is lots of advice and tips on here too

Kath 

The support and advice I got here was amazing  

I was a bit of a flapper to start and you lot helped so so much. You have all helped me  to go out and eat in restaurants. You and Crankshaft were hilarious. Sarah gave me the confidence to get on a plane. 
Thank you all that helped me get out and enjoy life.
Covid and Cancer knocked me flat. 

Take care. This heats ridiculous without a swimming pool and an all inclusive ha ha 

Thanks Artsie.I try to be upbeat as I really didnt have a choice of treatment so decided from the start to just get on with it and call it a new chapter in my life.

Sitting here dreaming of a french gite in the countryside with a swimming pool.bliss.maybe next year.

Kath

Paddling pool glass of wine this year. Getting there would be hard work. I remember France in a heat wave one year. We were driving to a market and got stuck in traffic. I started to take my clothes off was going to tell my daughter same and there she was flat out in the back in her bra and knickers. It still makes me laugh now. When we eventually parked (dressed) we both ran to a stone wall in the shade and stayed there. Didn’t go to the market. Just unbelievable heat. Still I’m waffling. 
Stay cool everyone 

Hello Yoyo,

I had always dreaded a stoma - or rather 'a bag'.

As it happened there was no option and no time to dwell on it - total blockage Sunday, operation to provide a stoma first procedure the next day.

I don't know how much you've been told about what to expect with a stoma.  I, of course had been told nothing except hearsay and perhaps something of old uncles dealing with things many years ago.

I didn't know that the pouches cling on with their own built-in self-adhesive 'plate' of flexible plastic.  or that the pouches can be drainable or not, depending on professional advice.  Mine were drainable to start with, but when I was shown how to deal with them myself they switched me to disposable ones.  Getting them off might be eye-watering, were it not for the adhesive remover sprays and wipes that are used to release the pouch and remove adhesive remnants.

Now, control.  That's the oddest thing.  You have more control than those without stomas.  They have an unruly sphincter, you have a pouch with capacity to handle more than one usual visit.  You won't 'go' anymore, but nor will you feel the need to do so.  The pouches, being flexible plastic, warm up quickly and settle easily.  While fresh they lie quite flat, and gradually fill.  The pace of filling is determined by your natural pace of passing matter though your digestive system.  This as you know will vary for a bunch of reasons.  It is not constant so changing can work round it.  You can sometimes feel a slight movement as the pouch gets some extra, but the stoma itself gives no sensations (to me, at least).  Depending how you dress the weight or the slight pressure of the filling pouch will tell you when to check it.  In no time, it seemed to me, I was able to work out how long I was likely to have and decide whether to change before I went out or not.  The ladies will advise you on clothing - for a chap with fairly loose-top trousers the pouch is undetectable - and in any case who stares at other peoples' groins?

Support network.  You may have a stoma nurse assigned when you leave hospital.  I see mine about once a month and we go over any issues.  How might it have been without Sally?  I was shown and taught how to deal with my stoma before I left hospital armed with a bag (with the necessaries for changing), pamphlets and 24/7 contact numbers.  There would have been things I couldn't discuss if Sally wasn't there, but this site would have pretty much filled the gap.  For some things (e.g. deciding on a trip or outing) there is no substitute for the direct experiences of the people here.

Accidents and diarrhoea.  Yes, stuff happens.  So far I've only had a few self-induced leaks caused by delaying changing and then (e.g) sitting.  Since the pouch is larger in area than the stoma it covers, the leaks have been behind the bag and resolvable by an urgent visit to the loo with my changing bag.  Others may say different.

Diarrhoea is awful however one is placed, but at least the output is into the pouch.  To be honest though you do lose the 'I can make it to the loo' sensation because your sphincter isn't involved, and changing can be 'tricky' shall we say.

I hope this helps,

Best wishes,  Roy

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Morning Ann

I’m so glad I could help in giving you that bit of extra confidence to get on a plane! I should be on another one myself next week if all goes ahead, and yes it will be all inclusive and we have our own pool….bliss. 

Sarah xx

Thank you to you all. 

My husband has decided to go ahead, thank God x