Recent Diagnosis, upcoming surgery.

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Hi Everyone,

I am new here and have recently been diagnosed with bowel/colorectal cancer. I am considering myself very lucky that my cancer has not spread and they are aiming for a cure. My surgery is this coming Friday and whilst I’ve been handing the news pretty well up to this point my anxiety is certainly creeping up now.n Everything has happened really quickly and I’ve not really stopped to process it all yet.

The care I’ve received so far has been incredible but I’m not sure what to expect post surgery. I’ve been told I’ll be on HDU for a few days but not what kind of pain I should expect to experience. I would really appreciate it if someone could share their post op experience. My surgeon is hoping to carry out the operation keyhole and reattach everything but has obviously warned me that if he is not happy then I’ll need either a temporary stoma or permanent colostomy which I totally understand. I am struggling to get my head around the fact I won’t know what I’ll have until I wake up.

I’ve also been told that I may need a course of chemotherapy post surgery to help reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

Anyway, I’m very grateful for this space and being able to get my concerns and worries off my chest. Thank you everyone.

Bowel67 over 1 year ago in reply to Craig123

Hi Craig

Can I just say you would not have been able to find a more cowardly lad when it came to injections.

And I couldnt get any of the family prepared to shove the needle into me. So I got advice that I could inject either hip/thigh. Then remembering that these will stop (or render reasonably safe) any blood clots killing you I set myself a plan as follows:-

(1.) I found that if I pinched where I was going to inject myself with my forefinger and thumb - so that there was a wee bit of discomfort

(2.) I then injected into the bit that I had pinched together just as I realeased my grip

(3.) injected the full syringe worth relatively slowly

(4.) gave the injection area a soft rub (just to say I'm finished)

(5.) made a point (excuse the pun) to carry out the injection by 18:00 hours every day

(6.) and just so I wouldnt inject the exact same spot on either thigh (doing each one day about) I put a small marker ring round the spot

OK can nI also add that after the third injection it became a lot easier and prepared me for the 3 weekly blood tests at the local surgery once I started the 6 months chemo.

Hope that this helps and the 28 days passed relatively quickly.

Marianne26 over 1 year ago in reply to Craig123

As I said Craig; every Health Centre has district nurses attached to the practice - that do this kind of thing on a daily basis. When I mentioned my reluctance to do these myself - whilst in the hospital, it was arranged for me....& on discharge, a nurse arrived the following day.

The main reason for my reluctance was - an inch of fat needs to be pinched - on either your stomach or your thigh - & then jabbed - & because of the cancer at that time, I was very skinny, only weighing 7 stone; When shown, I tried, but found it hard to find enough fat to squeeze!

Marianne x

Rac over 1 year ago

Good morning,

I’m currently a month post op after an emergency right helicolectomy. The operation was key hole with 5 incisions, the largest being roughly 3 inches. After the operation I had pain from the gas and operation for which I was given oramorph. I went straight back to a ward after the operation and was allowed to eat straight away. As others have said I had a catheter but that was removed the next morning at which point I was encouraged to walk. I left the hospital 3 days after surgery, I can now move freely although I’m still not allowed to lift anything. Last Tuesday the hospital confirmed the tumour was cancerous so I’m currently awaiting chemotherapy.

Hope the op goes well