Option of stoma

Hi - I met a French Dr at our local A&E post treatment as had additional issues - he told me his mother had recovered very quickly and less pain as she had a Stoma and in the UK it is very rare.  He swore by them for her as less trouble as not opening bowels and weeing when burns sore.  As you will see in our chats everyone has different experiences and at some points I wish I had one  -  I would have felt cautious like you are.  However across Europe apparently it’s often given temporarily with full recovery xx   good luck  

Hi I had astoma before my radiotherapy and didn't have the same issues others gad even though I did have sores which the creams helped with 

Thank you for replying. Did you have the stoma reversed afterwards?  

Morning.

I actually asked my oncologist last week about this same thing and he said definitely no because to be honest the reversals don't always work so well then you'd end up with a permanent stoma. So obviously I said great we definitely won't go down that route.

No I've still got it 

Hello Clarhedge

I was offered a stoma two years after treatment because of severe anal stenosis and ongoing loo problems, I had the op in June this year and am completely at home with it.  I was never offered one prior to treatment and didn't even realise some consultants in the UK do them to ease symptoms during treatment.  What I do know is that there many forum members who have more or less gone back to normal - a slightly different normal maybe, more diet sensitivity, slight stenosis, occasional loo urgency but certainly not to the degree I had.

From the information I was given prior to the op is that sometimes reversals do have problems, and ongoing problems too.  But I am not an expert on that, you would need to take qualified advice.  Of course, if I had known I was going to end up with a stoma anyway, I would have certainly had it done prior!  But whilst there is a chance it could all go pear-shaped with reversal?  I would be worried about that.

Irene x

Yes I can see the pros and cons. I just feel it’s a big operation and if there are any complications it will delay treatment I know from my job in nhs that radiotherapy can be delayed by surgery not healing or infection etc. Also the reversal isn’t without complications.  If I was to have a stoma I’d want the cancer removing and it to be a permanent one. 

Thanks for that. I feel like I’ve had very little information. I’d be lost completely with out this forum! If it comes to it at some stage in my journey I do need a stoma I will be fine with it. It’s not that I don’t want to have one for any particular reason. I just feel like having major surgery prior to what sounds like brutal radiotherapy is too much for me. I’m taking it one day at a time. 

I saw the oncologist yesterday. She said no you don’t need a stoma. So I’m good with that! 

That's good news, now you can focus on getting your treatment underway.

All the best, stay in touch x