totally new so bear with me, ive had cancer now 4 times twice squarmous cell on my face, that was about ten years ago im 51 now and last year may the 8th i was diagnosed with bowel /colon cancer , the surgeon (who is brilliant ) removed two thirds of my rectum and some of my colon.
last month i went for a colonoscpy and was afterwards the cancer was back this time on the opposite side , the surgeon has gave me three options and it seems only one has any quality life and that is to remove everything , rectum, rest of colon, and bowel and i'll be having a peremant stoma attached (which has terrified me) is their anyone whos been through this id love to know exactly what its like , recovery and how you cope with it all because at the minute my head is all over the place , thanks for reading :)
Hi ross1973
I had an operation called a total pelvic exenteration, which removes everything from the pelvis. (Thanks Kareno62 for the tag).
This is different surgery to the abdominal perineal resection, but I am left with a permanent colostomy and a urostomy since I also had my bladder removed.
With either surgery option you don’t have a stoma attached, as stomas are formed from your bowel, but of course you do have a bag attached to your abdomen which you need to change.
Karen has recommend joining the Stoma Group in her reply to you and it’s a really good group for support and advice. I can share my experience of total pelvic exenteration surgery and recovery, but this will be different to APR surgery, as more is removed in exenteration surgery.
Either op is major surgery, but there can be a good life afterwards and I had my surgery 4.5 years ago. I’m currently typing this on a sunny terrace in Lanzarote and have just been in the swimming pool for a dip. Surgery is a scary thought, but can give you a very good outcome when you have a cancer which recurs.
Sarah xx
