Sigmoid colon cancer

Hi, Mamfi , I went straight to surgery, the quicker to get the intruder out!! I managed to have a good join, and no stoma. In Mon lunch, op in pm, out Fri am. They keep you so they can check the join is ok, and you've had some sort of bowel movement. 

There is I believe a hospital list, (Kareno62 ?) but pj , towel, wash bag, long charging lead, clothes easy to put on, no tight waist bands. You will hopefully be got up the next day, and in my humble opinion, the more you move (once allowed) the better things will be. This will help on the gaining confidence to go out, BUT remember you will have had a major operation. Driving will probably be a no for 6 weeks, lifting more than a half kettle is a no. The gentler you can treat yourself in these early days, but still keeping active, will help you. But expect to feel tired and rest. This could linger for a few months, everyone is different.

All the best, and take care. You are in the right place here

Hello Mamfi

Please try not to worry too much about the Op. at this stage - & try to think of it as a positive, as the surgeon will be aiming to remove the cancer.

It sounds as though you haven't yet reached the stage where you will meet with the surgeon, who will describe all the process of the operation - & all of this, will take place soon (if your op. is to be in January.) When you do meet, write down a list of questions you want to ask in advance - including the questions you have asked in your post.

However, in the meantime, & just to allay some of those fears - you should be able to open your bowels within a couple of days following the op. (The hospital keeps you in until you do.) It is very doubtful that you will need incontinence pads. However, the Surgeon will mention about the possibility of having a stoma fitted - this they talk about with every patient, prior to the operation.

& also, it is very unlikely that you will be housebound.

I was walking on the ward the day after the op. (The staff encourage this.) I was discharged after four days, & by that time, was walking normally; including stairs. I was seventy at the time - & you have youth on your side.

In the meantime (while you are waiting for a meeting pre.op,) try to take your mind off post op...& concentrate on doing things that you enjoy....Yes, I know, it's difficult...But I really think that you will feel so much better, when you have sat down with the surgeon, & have a better understanding of the process of the operation & the after effects.

Wishing you all the very best.

Marianne x

Hi Mamfi You’ve had a brilliant couple of replies from the ladies so I’ll just attach a link to the booklet that Gemmary refers to

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YourOperation_BowelCancerUK.pdf

Hope it all goes well

Karen x

Thanks so much. They started chemo first but had really bad side effects so stopped. Now they want surgery next then a different chemo after. 

I have my pre opp with my lovely surgeon on the 15th. So I am hoping to find out everything then. Its just alot to take in. Thanks xx

Hi Mamfi  like some of the comments here, I also went straight to surgery and thankfully didn’t need a stoma (although they measured me up for one jic). I had op Tuesday and went home Friday. I was sore for a few weeks, you don’t realise how much you use your stomach muscles, so getting out of bed and off the sofa were hard at first but manageable.

The surgeons will tell if you if they think you will have a stoma or not, if you will it might be temporary to allow the surgery site to heal then get reversed. Like others have said, loose clothing (I got myself some big comfy knickers so the waist band didn’t sit on the wound site)

I didn’t need Incontinence pads but it might depend how much of your colon they remove. I had 7.5cm taken & everything has gone back to normal! 

in the hospital I was so tired from the drugs, I slept on and off so didn’t use the tablet loaded with Netflix films or books that I took! Everyone reacts differently though. My scar is like a c section scar so if you had one with any of your kids, you might find they use that & you won’t have any extra scaring. Perhaps a question to ask at your appt.

good luck with everything!