Bowel cancer

Hi ,  in 2019 I started out the same as you with chemo/radiotherapy and it shrunk the tumour to the extent that the surgeon almost didn't do the op. From the onset, before the chemo/rad, the surgeon had said he would be doing a Lower Resection of the Colon, which is what he did.  So has your surgeon suggested already what sort of op it might be and also where is the tumour?

If it sounds the same as mine I would be happy to tell you my experience.

Cheers, John

Hi John  Not sure whether I sent the other reply.  Like you I believe it is lower bowel/rectum.  I have had 5 weeks, every day of chemo/radiotherapy and am still feeling rough after finishing it 5 weeks ago.   I saw the Oncologist last Thursday and she told me the tumour had shrunk and will have surgery, but I will have to see the colorectal consultant, whom I am seeing on the 19th.  She did mention keyhole surgery, so that is what I am hoping for.  Perhaps you could let me know how you got on? Thank You.

Hi again, so I had the LAR by keyhole, small incisions to get in plus one to take the bits away! I had a temporary ileostomy while the join healed. Not everyone has that and the surgeon will advise you if he thinks you may need one. Don't let the idea of a stoma freak you out; it is very manageable and it is for a good purpose if you have to have one. I had mine reversed a year later.

The operation is quite long and I would have been out in five days but my small bowel refused to start working again. It is called ileus and only happens to a few people. Recovery from the operation was ok, how you get on depends a little with stoma or no stoma. Pain was no real problem, controlled in the hospital and at home .

After the operation the oncologist proposed three months of back up chemo, CAPOX. They might decide there is no benefit to you. No doubt they will check lymph nodes etc and make a decision from there. I completed the course, with the dose reduced half way and I am just getting ready for my three year check next month. So far, so good and the procedures have worked as planned.

Hope all goes well for you, do come back if I can help answer anything. John

Thank you John for your very helpful reply. My friend also had a stoma for IBS, and she also found it very manageable so I will just have to cope if I have to have one.

I did not realize I would be in hospital for so long as I thought it would just be in just overnight, but its better to know, and obviously I will know more next Friday.

I have been fortunate that it has not spread anywhere else.

Thank you once again for your help.

Mary

Hi Mary
I had a LAR last August I was in quickly as close to blocking. I wasn’t eligible for robotic. I had keyhole then incision to lift the bowel as mine was huge and he needed to get it all out. My op was six hours. My nieces friend had a LAR robotic and she was faster in recovery than me as hers wasn’t so long or invasive

Pain management was great in hospital and my doctor took over when I got home. Up the next morning and home in five days. I was delighted to wake up with the stoma and no pressure in my bottom.  My surgeon and the colorectal team were amazing 

So we although the same operation it just depends on what’s needed to get the cancer out.

That’s a wonderful feeling. To know it’s in the bin. 
Good luck with it all. Keep us posted 

Thank you for your reply, it really sounds as though you have done extremely well.  Can you explain what LAR robotic is please, I have not heard of that, and also what does LAR mean, I am not really up on this, although I worked as a medical secretary for 20 odd years!  Glad to hear pain management was good, as I have been through such a lot recently with the chemo/radiotherapy it was so painful, although I did have some Morphine.  Sounds like you have a good GP, I do not know mine, never ever met him/her.  They found my tumour when I went to A&E with pain and since them have been under the hospital, so never heard from GP.  Can I ask have you still got the stoma, to be honest I would rather have one of those and feel better.  Can you eat what you like now?

It must be lovely to know its all over and its all good now.

Kind Regards Mary.

Hi Mary. 
Lower Anterior Resection. 
In basic terms I’m not medical. I had a 10cm tumour in my rectum. Close to blocking. It had been there years my doctor diagnosed piles!

I was close to blocking robotic wasn’t any option so I’m not sure about that I think I saw it on the TV a surgeon sits and operates it not hands on. 

Anyway because my tumour was just above the sphincter I could keep my anus the surgeon cut above that he lifted my bowel pulled the tumour out cut away the tissue and damage and joined it all back up  a bit like a plumber fixing a blockage  As this meant my rectum was new very small and stitched together I couldn’t use that until it healed

So before he fixed my blockage he had cut a small hole on my right side just below naval pulled out part of the tubing colon or I like to call it pipe cut it leaving it joined  to my bowel and formed the stoma  so my bowel keeps healthy heals and has no need to process my food 

So I have a loop ileostomy which may be reversed at some stage or may not 

This meant the surgery could heal and my output goes into a bag or pouch! 
AMAZING ISNT IT!!!

I am a year now I eat everything except sweetcorn and skin  anything that could block  it takes a little while and I had to get used to eating white bread with butter Fishfinger sandwiches and mayo  steamed puddings and custard So I found nice food even with the beige diet 

I like it  now I can eat salads small leaf and peppers cucumber seeds out peppers  I can even eat nuts but it’s chew chew chew 

I’ve been abroad twice, stayed in hotels, eaten in restaurants  in fact I’m much better now than I was with the pressure of the cancer

My GP was helpful with pain management but that’s because his practice told me I had piles  he said that there was no need for me to be in pain and gave me slow release  they were amazing  

You can phone your colorectal nurses they can put you in the picture. They were amazing as I was a wreck before my op

I hope that I have explained it okay 

What operation are you having?

Thank you, crumbs you really had the works, it sounded really complicated, it is marvellous what the surgeon done, it saved your life.  Sounds like it has only been a year, so you have done extremely well in that short length of time, having holidays, eating well, may it long continue as I am sure it will.

I suppose I am apprehensive about the op not really knowing what to expect, but I just have to get on with it like every one else has to, and bowel ops seem to be very successful.   I am not sure what operation I am having, I am seeing the Consultant on the 19th and he will let me know then.  

Did you have to wait long before you were operated on?

Thanks again.

Mary

Hi, MaryChar2046, I too went straight to theatre as close to blocking, again a LAR by laparoscopy , similar to Artsie. But I didn't get a stoma, managed to rejoin it, stapled together . I remember my left shoulder really hurting when i woke up, due to the gas they pump you up with. Don't really remember any pain in particular after the spinal wore off, so it can't have been severe. Just paracetamol and codeine as and when.

All the best

Hi Mary.

The waiting is tough. My mind was all over the place. 
They were quick to operate as chemo/radiotherapy wasn’t an option. My surgeon said that the position of the cancer meant operate quickly. From seeing him I was about a week. But like I say I was close to not being able to pass my food. He said I would be an emergency so he wanted to get it out. 
I just handed myself over to my team I did the exercises they told me I had protein drinks to get as strong as possible

You may have completely different treatment to me. The treatment is planned around your needs. And it’s remarkable what they can do. 
Try not to worry. 
After my op I work up felt my tum and knew the cancer was gone. I was delighted. The stoma’s my life saver. 

I stayed away in a hotel six weeks after my operation. I just had lots of power naps.
You take care. Try and stay as healthy as possible.
Good luck on the 19th.

Let us know how it goes.