Surgery

Hi Rab and welcome to the forum!

I was diagnosed in May 2019 when I was 42, and I had no spread either. I waited a month between diagnosis and surgery and I kept busy in that time. The surgery went really well and I was home after 4 days. It took about 3 weeks to fully recover (very sore when laughing/coughing, had to hold a cushion). I was lucky not to need a stoma, but there are many people living with a stoma on tis forum. I just had to stay away from certain food for a while but it settled down pretty quick. 

Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have!

Take care,

Cecile

Hi Cecile,

Thanks for your response and the details of your experience and the positive outcome from your own surgery. This certainly helps. 

I've never had surgery and i think its the whole being put under that I'm apprehensive about, basically not being in control, i know this might seem silly.

Best wishes

Rab

Hi Rab 

I was diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer on the 5 of July 2023. Went to surgery first on the 23 of August, Robotic assisted surgery, no stoma needed., I was discharged home 48 hours after surgery.i am currently recovering from surgery, I am on week 4.5 now, I am fully recovered, I am walking and doing some housework as well. 
next week I got meeting with my surgeon to find out histology results and if I need any another treatment after surgery 

 do you know the date of is your surgery ? 

All the best 

natallia 

Hi Natallia,

Thanks for sharing you experience and great to know you have well after the surgery. Best of luck with the meeting next week, I really hope you don’t require anymore treatment. 

My surgery is on the 20th of October. 

Best wishes

Rab

Hi Rab. You sound to be doing exactly the right thing by keeping active and staying busy. My operation was the first time I’d been in hospital but I was ‘pleasantly surprised’ by how well everything was managed. The anaesthetist will meet with you again before the op and go through everything again. The nurses check with you regularly after the op and administer pain relief when required. You’ll be encouraged to get up and about the day after the op and things get easier as the various drips and tube are removed. 

Presumably you’ll have a pre-op appointment so may be able to jot a few questions down to discuss then? I’ve attached a link to a booklet about the operation that may help?

Take care

Karen x

Hello Rab,

Like you, I was a stranger to surgery but took some comfort from watching the surgical programmes on TV each week. Looking at some of the operations people underwent for various significant injuries and ailments it was remarkable that - after a few hours - they were sitting up in bed having a cup of tea and talking on camera. It's all down to the anaesthetist (but don't tell the surgeon that). Also, I hated the thought of supporting a tumour in my bowel - like a parasite - and wanted it gone ASAP so, strangely, I welcomed surgery as the best way to be rid of it. It worked and the surgical team were very pleased with the outcome. Try not to worry about surgery. Modern techniques are remarkable and those involved are doing this day in day out.

I was in theatre for over six hours and remember going in and waking up afterwards. Thereafter it was nine days in hospital just lying there doing nothing and I guess the morphine drip made a remarkable difference. I don't remember any pain at all and just let the nursing staff do their jobs. Everyone at the hospital was first-class.

Take it easy afterwards and keep doing deep breathing exercises to oxygenate your blood (the anaesthetist told me that). I still do after 18 months and feel better for it. You will be fine and the experience might just give you a brighter view on life in general - my outlook is different now from what it was pre-op..

Best Wishes and keep us all posted when you are up and about again.

Hi Karen,

I really appreciate you taking time to replyand share your experience of surgery. I had a pre-op meeting with a nurse last week that went well. I have a few booklets that I've started looking over, which are very help but it's  first hand accounts that I find most helpful.

Thanks for attaching the link, this is very helpful.

Best wishes

Robert

Hi Karen,

I really appreciate you taking time to replyand share your experience of surgery. I had a pre-op meeting with a nurse last week that went well. I have a few booklets that I've started looking over, which are very help but it's  first hand accounts that I find most helpful.

Thanks for attaching the link, this is very helpful.

Best wishes

Hi Dulac,

Thanks also for sharing your experience of surgery. I'm starting to feel far more positive about it and its great to know everyone has been looked after so well. The nursery I've meet so far are fantastic. 

Thanks for the breathing tips and you have certainly help give me a more positive mindset.

Best wishes 

Rab

Hi Rab - I was unexpectedly diagnosed with bowel cancer in August 2022 - no symptoms. I was eventually classed as a T3N2M0 and advised to have surgery- essentially removal of the tumour and a bowel resection.

I opted for robotic surgery given its ability to remove the tumour without spreading the cancer - it’s very precise. It’s quite a demanding option as you are under for some time but my recovery was astonishing. I left hospital 3 days after my surgery with no pain. I was reclassified as a T3N0M0 and avoided chemo and am now in the 5 yr surveillance programme. I’ve posted an update on the treatment forum but essentially a year on I am cancer free and doing brilliantly.

I am a very fit 62 yr old man which helped with my surgery choice. Best wishes on your journey to recovery.