Exercise/physiotherapy to help rectum recovery

1 reply
117 subscribers
392 views

I am about to have 5 fractions of radiotherapy followed by 4 cycles of chemo to shrink a T2 tumour prior to mid-rectal surgery. I would like to give my poor old rectum the best possible chance of recovering function with the hope of avoiding permanent colostomy if I can. Is there a resource I can read that is offering a set of exercises for strengthening that area?

Kareno62 over 1 year ago

Hi PeterPandora. I’ve not heard of any exercises to strengthen the actual bowel itself only ones for improving the muscles often recommended before a stoma reversal. If your tumour is mid-rectal then the radiotherapy may shrink it enough for the surgeon to be able to rejoin the bowel without a stoma but that would be in the hands of your surgeon.

Are you aware of Papillon treatment? I’m not sure how big your tumour is but here’s a link to the site so you can have a look at it?

https://www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk/patients/treatment-and-support/papillon

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm