I'm new to all this, but wondered if there is anyone who has experienced having the sort of surgery I'm waiting to have in a few weeks' time, having had 5 weeks of chemoradiotherapy this autumn. I had a near total colectomy about 40 years ago due to chronic Chron's disease. I had an ileostomy which was reversed a year later, thankfully. Now I have a cancer in the perianal area which is going to result in surgery to remove the cancer and the surrounding area, including my rectum and part of my vagina. I will have to have plastic surgery and, once again, an ileostomy - permanently this time. Having an ileostomy again is scaring me almost as much as the rest of the surgery. The whole thing is utterly terrifying - the surgery, including plastic surgery, is huge and the recovery will be lengthy. My partner is the only one who knows the full extent of what's to come as he was present at the consultations with the surgeons. I find it pretty impossible to describe it to friends or family.
