Hi
I'm new to this group but feel it may benefit me enormously if someone has experienced what I'm currently going through.
Back in 2016 I had an operation called laparoscopic high anterior resection to remove part of my colon due to cancer. This was followed by 6 months of chemo due to a few lymph nodes being involved. Since then I have had usual follow up procedures with no further issues. After experiencing recent rectal bleeding earlier this year, 3 polyps were removed during a colonoscopy. One was found to have cancer cells present and with the margin being 0.4 of a millimetre close to the colon I have been advised of surgery options to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. One option is to remove all of the bowel, including anus which would mean a permanent stoma or ileostomy. Another option is to remove the majority of the colon with an operation called subtotal colectomy with a join, called ileorectal anastomosis or the final option of keeping an eye on where the malignant polyp was removed and take further biopsies which they consider inappropriate as having a significant degree of uncertainty.
I would love to hear if anyone has had the option of subtotal colectomy with a join, I have been advised the downside to this procedure is that the stools can be quite loose although medication can rectify this problem. My recent CT scan of lungs, liver and abdomen is clear so they're planning on surgery very soon I just have to decide which way to go. Even though I am cancer free at the moment they anticipate the cancer returning as it has only been 6 years to return to the colon which they consider high risk of leaving the colon to remain.
