Hi everyone, I had my meeting the other day with my surgeon and we discussed potential risks of the surgery. I’m 100% having a temporary illestomy, my cancer is 6cm into my rectum. I had to sign today that if we can’t get the join I would need the APR, however he is quite confident he can get the join. Once I had time to reflect on this at home I was suddenly hit by the realisation of what this means. My bum hole would be sewn up or my bum cheeks. I’ve seen people who have had the APR who have had either. I think as he’s quite positive he can get the join, I’d feel a lot more comfortable taking that risk if the permanent stoma meant I’d have my bum hole sewn together (so my bum would appear totally normal) than my cheeks being sewn together. I think this would really knock my confidence and as a 24 year old girl it seems like the end of the world. My surgeon didn’t really touch on the APR, just said my rectum would be removed. Would I have been informed of this happening? Has anyone had the LAR with their tumour below 6cm! I have a lot of thoughts running through my head and need some advice. I tried to contact my nurses but they didn’t get back to me
