Rectal cancer

Hi  and welcome to the board. I’ve attached links to a couple of booklets that you might like to have a quick look at before the meeting?

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

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

The fact that the tumour is contained in the bowel is good news. They sometimes try and shrink the tumour with chemo and radiotherapy beforehand or sometimes go straight to the operation but I’m sure this will all be discussed at the meeting. 

A lot of people find the thought of having a stoma hard to come to terms with but once he gets used to it then he’ll find that life will carry on as normal. My friend has a permanent stoma and you would never know - she works full time, eats out, drinks, goes on cruises, flew to New York etc. There is a board for stoma people although it’s a little quiet at the minute

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/ileostomy-and-colostomy-discussions-forum

Sorry about all the reading. I’m going to tag in a couple of people who have had similar operations/stomas OldRhodie and crankshaft and also who is going through the same with her husband so you could maybe help each other through this?

Take care and let us know how the meeting goes?

Karen x

Hi Pollypops, 

I am in the same position  as you but probably  2 weeks further on in the chain. My husband goes in for surgery on Monday. Can't believe how  ill its made me , but do see your GP, I did yesterday and glad I did. My hubby has to have a permenant stoma also and still finding hard to imagine what the future brings for us. We are having a visit from a stoma nurse today so maybe things will be a bit clearer after her visit. This site is very helpful and a comfort because you can go and read other stories about people in same situation and how they have coped and got better. Sending you love .

Hi Pollypops, Sorry to hear of your husband's problems. My tumour was low down but they shrunk it with chemo radiotherapy and operated. I had an ileostomy for a year which has now been reversed. I would imagine that if they are saying permanent he would have a colostomy bag. Once I got used to the regime of changing the bag it didn't stop me doing anything including flying off for a holiday. It isn't something that we want but , as my stoma nurse said, think of it as helping to save his life.

I have an older friend who has had a colostomy bag for over twenty years and it he just treats it as normal, plays golf, travels, eats out and so forth.  Once he has got used to it I am sure he will accept it.

I hope you have a constructive meeting with the surgeon and a successful outcome.

All the best to you both,  John