Precancerous cells, possible colectomy and stoma

Hi LesAli and welcome to our group.

That’s a very difficult question to answer and the decision is very personal. Lots of us in the group had no option but to have surgery, so can be hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes where there is a choice involved.

What is your attitude to risk? How do you feel about living with a potential risk of developing cancer at some point or could you live with a watch and wait scenario and the potential anxiety of that?

I didn’t have cancer in my colon but still asked for it to be removed as I was undergoing extensive surgery for recurrent cervical cancer and I wanted to give myself the best possible chance of avoiding another recurrence. That was a choice I made which surprised my colorectal surgeon but luckily he agreed. I already knew I would be having my bladder removed so would have a urostomy, and having had chemoradiation as my first line of treatment with a recurrence of my cancer very shortly afterwards, my focus was on taking everything out. I didn’t want to leave it and hope for the best, but my situation is very different as you don’t have a cancer diagnosis.

It will be interesting to see if there are any others in the group who have been faced with the same situation as you are in, so I hope you’ll get some relevant replies.

Sarah xx

Hi I wasnt quite the same but having UC for over 30 yrs,when cancer was discovered as well I was given the choice of just removing the part of the bowel affected or a complete panproctocolectomy.to me it was a no brainer,I went for the bigger op then I wouldnt have UC anymore and wouldnt always have maybe more cancer in the future hanging over me.

Of course ultimately its what suits you and everyone is different.

All I can offer is what I chose and to add that 5 yrs later Im still here with no further problems

Kath

Hi When I was having my investigations initially they were saying I had cells that were high grade dysplasia. I first had chemo radiotherapy to see what effect that would have. They did eventually find cancer cells! -it took three colonoscopies in quite a short space of time. After my chemo radiotherapy they told me if the cancer cells had gone I would have the choice of not having a resection/stoma just surveillance or having the bit of bowel effected removed and the op with a  permanent stoma. I had long discussions about this and the main thing about having it removed is that the problem part would no longer be inside me. In the end it was taking out of my hands and they advised the op. I now have been living with the stoma for 18 months and it's not a problem. I've just started swimming again! I am still been monitored but was told after the op there was no longer signs of cancer in me. I have found it so reassuring that the bit of the bowl has gone and even though I have to change my bag once or twice a day I don't think about it most of the time and it hasn't impacted my life.  I don't know if my experience helps as it's slightly different from yours. Don't get me wrong I don't think anyone would choose to have a stoma but it gives me the best chance of no cancer in the future. I did find the recovery tough - I was 58 when I had my op so considerably older than you . I also had to have a hysterectomy at the same time.