Possibility of refusing surgery?

Ahh so sorry to hear that Kakadu, it’s a hard decision to make but I think I can see where you’re coming from especially if it’s slow growing. Is there any treatment that they can give you to prolong. I think you should ask more questions and maybe the good people on here may have a few answers to help you decide.

As I said in another post to you we also went to see the surgeon on Thursday, my husbands having a CTC with an enema hopefully as he hasn’t a stomach so can’t drink all that prep. It’s on the 2 WW , he’s 80 with 3 other cancers but doing well at the moment, I’m just keeping fingers crossed that the bowels ok as I don’t think I could cope with him having 4 cancers.

Whatever you decide it be the right decision for you. Big Hugs X

Thank you Sue. They don't seem to be offering any alternative to surgery. You're right I should ask more questions and this morning I thought of all the questions I should have asked yesterday! Today I heard that I will be having a full colonoscopy on Monday week, just the day I didn't want as we were going to go to Cornwall for my brother's 80th birthday. He has myeloma and isn't well enough to travel. But hopefully when I get the results I'll have a bit more info to go on.

I do hope it turns out your husband's bowel is ok. Big hugs to you too.

K xx

Hi Kakadu 

I can also understand you’re reasoning. I have two young family members that’s on my hubbys side and mine both ladies were diagnosed in their forties. They’re both troupers

Funnily enough the one question I asked my surgeon and the only one as his explanation of his planned surgery was

” What if I don’t have it done ?”

It was a guttural reaction to the stoma I think and the fact it was a big op 

He looked very shocked and replied,

” That will result in you coming in blocked under an emergency which would not allow you to have this surgery?” 

Although I am not in the same position as you by asking that question I knew my options 

What operation are they proposing?

Take care  

I’m sending you a virtual hug 

Hi Ann, thank you for this. It's interesting: you asked the same question as I did and basically got the same reply, only my surgeon didn't respond with shock, but seemed to think refusing surgery might be reasonable in my situation.

Reading people's profiles on here, I'm struck by the fact that surgery seems to be followed by complications and/or return of cancer before very long, which inclines me to refuse it. On the other hand, it may be that the people on here are those who've had these problems following surgery and there may be lots more out there who were fine after surgery and are getting on with their lives now!

The operation that was described to me was a colectomy I think. But I'm scheduled to have a full colonoscopy on Monday week. My guess is when they get the results of that they'll come up with a definite proposal.

Big virtual hug

Karen.

Hi Karen 

In all honesty I was 66 and quite fit , my op was a LAR with temporary Ileostomy which was no issues after a couple of weeks when I got the hang of it and gained strength. I had no core strength obviously however that meant getting in out of bed standing from a chair. It was six hour operation. If I were you I don’t think I’d have that in fact I don’t think my consultant would have offered it  just sorting the stoma needs dexterity 

When I was having my final investigation the doctor said look at you you are fit, slim and healthy we will throw everything we have got at you  If you were in your eighties and frail we would make you comfortable and keep a check 

My cancer was a four inch rectal tumour so it was a big operation I had a stoma for thirteen months while it healed and the waiting list got around to me 

When you know exactly what they planning then you can make an informed choice. 
They may just take the top off 

Keep us updated 

Good luck 

Hugs back attcha 

I think you and my husband.are following the same path, he also just received a letter today telling him what procedure he’s having and with what bowel prep, also a week on Monday. It’s a CT Colonography and the prep is Gastrografin, is that what you had?  he can manage to drink that just about,  with having no stomach it makes it hard. If it’s the same as you was you ok after, I think you said before that someone drove you but could you have drove yourself . We live 25 miles away from the hospital and I can’t drive so would have to get transport if he can’t. Can they do biopsies with that procedure? do you know 

Im so sorry it’s on the day you wanted to go away, things always seem to crop up at the same time. Thanks and take care  Xx

Hi, yes it was Gastrografin. And I was ok after the CT colonoscopy. However, they did tell me that various unpleasant things might happen as a result of it, and if any of them did I was to go to A&E straight away. They gave me a letter saying I'd had this procedure, which I was to show to A&E. These ill effects may be very rare, I don't know. But I should think as long as you are with your husband he should be ok to drive home. Perhaps you should ask his cancer nurse if he has one?

And no, they can't do biopsies with this, it just takes an x-ray of the bowel, while a full colonoscopy they put something right up inside.

Good luck and good suggest you

Sorry, tablet is not good way to email! Good luck and best wishes to you both.

K xx

Hi.I cant really add much to others comments.I was 68 when I had my panproctocolectomy.an 8 hr op with ileostomy and barbie bum.

I also had 4 sessions of "just in case" capox to follow.

Ive had no complications in the following 4 yrs so all is well.

.I think you are correct in thinking that people who are ok dont on the whole post on here so you get a sightly skewed view on it.

Anyway all the best with whatever you decide..only you know what is best for your personal curcumstances.

Kath

Thank you Kath, this is a useful corrective to the fairly horrendous stories I've been reading. An 8 hour op sounds pretty horrendous though!