Operation

Hi Mags75

I was in the same position as you five years ago. Five weeks of chemo radiotherapy then the long wait for the operation and yes it was about seven or eight hours and I ended up with a temporary ileostomy. You mention your age, I was 73 at the time. I elected to have the follow up chemo because of a suspicious lymph node. A year later I had the reversal and am just going through the five year check up, so far so good.

I'm writing this to just say that, while there will be ups and downs, it can all work as planned.  Stay positive and you will be back on your horse in time.  

Best wishes for a successful operation in November.

John

Usually they take a whole load of adjacent lymph nodes out along with your tumour and adjacent section of intestine. If they find cancer in any of them when they biopsy the nodes then usually they will suggest chemo.

If you don't need chemo or a stoma and you are, as you say, fit then I think you should be ready to get back on your horse in 2-3 months: I'm 73, had a higher rectum resection in July, started to build up walking once I got out of hospital, was swimming (20 lengths) and went on a walking holiday in Austria after 6 weeks. I restarted cycling and pilates on my return (first ride, 19 miles). At 12 weeks I'm just restarting rowing. They told me that the resection itself heals by 4 weeks but there are risks of giving yourself a hernia if you put too much through the core too early. So far, so good.

Perhaps others could comment on what recovery is like with chemo or a stoma. I was fortunate and avoided both.

Thank you I am 75 and it is brilliant news fingers crossed that everything is okay with you. 

Wow you are doing well I hope I can be like that. I have a very low rectal tumour and my surgeon said he would try his best but there is a 99% chance I would have to have a stoma for the rest of my life but like he said I can still go swimming, go mountaineering, doing all kind of sports and with me being a horse rider my stoma would be put so it doesn’t interfere with my riding. I have my bag of tricks and a sheet of what I have to take over a period of 2 days before op. My daughter will give me the injection the night before talk about a load of medication plus drinks to up my calories and 4 days before have to have bloods done so they can match 2 units before op. 

I ended up with 2 stomas... permanent colostomy and urostomy.  This is a shock for anyone and I admit to having lots of fears prior to surgery but the stomas are not as bad as I feared and you can do whatever you like once healed. I don't find my stomas to be limiting at all. 

Good luck to you.

Hi Mags75. I had APR surgery for rectal cancer in 2019. Permanent colostomy really is no problem. I went back to work full time afterwards. I think it's all about keeping a positive attitude and I'm sure you will be back on your horse in no time. You seem to have the right attitude. Good luck 

Kim

Hi, My husband is heading for surgery on Monday.  His tumor is low and stage 3 also… with one lymph node swelled on the first scan.  So he is getting a stoma too…he’s only 42.  Can I ask what the injections are for… we haven’t been given any. Stay positive and here’s to a speedy recovery. Big x

Hi Janet1982 my injection is a blood thinner one, I did ask my colorectal nurse about it as one of my friends was a bit worried as she said it was fine. All the best for your husband on Monday x

Thanks for letting me know! I think my hubby will get these after surgery to help with circulation and prevent blood clots.  Thank u x 

I had blood thinner injections just before and then daily after my op. they showed me how to do these myself when I was discharged and they were for the first month. In my case I started to get nosebleeds so they agreed I could halve my dose, which solved my complication.