Finishing chemotherapy…next stages

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Hi everyone, this is my first post, and I am grateful for a place to share. Thank you. I have a question re next steps after chemotherapy. My husband has just finished 12 sessions of chemo (6 months). He has an ileostomy and very much hopes for a reversal. We seem to be in an “in between” stage now…discharged from Oncologist and referred back to Surgeon. It has been two weeks and we haven’t heard anything yet. In other people’s experience, could you tell me what the next steps are please? Someone along the way said it takes at least 6 weeks for the bowel to settle after chemo and before any further tests/reversal can be considered, but other than that we haven’t been told anything. Thank you and I wish you all the best.

Spider56 over 1 year ago

Hi Ellie1

I had surgery for bowel cancer in November 2021, with an ileostomy. I began 12 cycles of FOLFOX in January 2022, which were completed in July 2022.

I was discharged by my Oncologist back into the care of my Colorectal surgeon with a view to a reversal. I saw him in mid August and he said that subject to a clear CT scan and a sigmoidoscopy he would put me on his list for a reversal. Scan and sigmoidoscopy were good and I went on the list in October 2022.
A reversal operation is not considered a priority for the NHS, so I prepared myself for a longish wait.

Six months later I had my pre-op and was booked in for surgery at the end of April 2023. The initial date was cancelled and I finally had my reversal on Star Wars Day (4 May) 2023!

I have made a good recovery and am fully adapted to my new normal., eating and drinking whatever I want and having a full social life.

If you are concerned that you havven’t heard anything I’d give your Colorectal nurse a ring. I have always found them very helpful. Once I was on the list I gave my surgeons secretary a ring on a couple of occasions to gauge approximate timescales. She was also very helpful.

In reality it was just a case of being a patient patient.

Ellie1 over 1 year ago in reply to Spider56

Thank you so much. I’m really pleased you’ve had such a good outcome. As you say, it was a long wait for your reversal (I presume it was during covid too), but I’m really pleased you’re doing so well now. I’ve passed your reply to my husband to give him some positive news! All the best.