Very low rectal tumour - open vs keyhole

Hi H78. My tumour was 9cm from the anal verge so not as low as yours. My surgeon said he preferred to do open as it was easier ‘to get inside and get everything away’ but would start with keyhole if I insisted. I decided to go with open from the off to give him the best chance. I have a long scar but it’s faded to virtually nothing. Recovery wise my surgeon says keyhole might be easier in the first couple of weeks but after that there’s not much between them.

Although bowel cancer is very slow growing I personally would go for the open in July and get it done and out of the way.

Please let us know how you get on?

Take care

Karen x

Hi H78, my tumour is 3cm  and is 2cm away from the anus. I will have keyhole surgery to totally remove the anus, rectum and some part of sigmoid this coming july 26. The surgeon said if needed he will perform open surgery. Goodluck to you

Hi my tumour was 10cm classed as enormous in diagnosis at the colonoscopy.

I had keyhole, then open he wanted to lift my bowel out and get his hand in to pull it out. So I didn’t have a choice. I had both 

Although this was daunting I felt confident that he’d get at it. I have a bikini line scar, naval and the key hole small scars about And of course an Ileostomy

Id get that out of me asap if I was you plus the keyhole isn’t definite you may have an incision anyway.  

Good luck with your decision 

This is all so good to hear as so consistent with what my surgeon has said and my thinking. 

My tumour is 5cm from the anal verge so borderline. If lower then they said they’d do keyhole and permanent stoma. But because there is a chance of reconnection (even slim) then they’d convert to open for this.

Thank you so much, Hx

Hi Wil66, my surgeon said if mine had been a little lower then they would have advised exactly the same via key hole.

I made decision to go for open surgery and I’m now booked in on 27th July, the day after you. 

Do let me know how you get on. Hx