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Right hemi colectomy planned in the New Year

Leeds529f12
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Hi,
I’m newly diagnosed with a 5cm tumour near where my large intestine joins the small.

i feel very lucky to have been told it doesn’t look to have spread out of the colon and I have an operation planned in the New Year (awaiting confirmed date).

I am trying to focus on being in the moment and making the most of spending Christmas with my family but the thought of a major operation on the horizon is pretty daunting!

How did everyone mentally and physically prepare for procedure?

I also have an 8 yr old and 6 yr old who we need to tell after Christmas about the operation. I’m going to reach out to Macmillan for advice on how to best broach this subject with children and what they need to know and not know.

Its hard to comprehend how your life can be completely upended in a matter of weeks

  • I had an emergency operstion in February of this year. I collapsed at home of septic shoch and had to be resuscitated in ER. My colon had ruptured and caused the septic shock. They removed a tumour. It is good your operation is not an emergency as such and you should heal well. I ended up i. ICU for several weeks but not because of the colon surgery. Because of the septic shock. Are you getting a stoma? 

  • in reply to Tricolour

    Hi, I’m that must have been such a shock for you to go through!

    No, the consultant advised that there is no plan for a stoma at this point.

  • Hi  and a warm welcome to the board. Yes it is a shock but the no spread is good news and try to remember that this is something the surgeons do for a living so you’ll be in good hands. 

    I’ve attached a few links that I’ve thought looked good in the past for talking to children and also one about the op, things to pack etc.

    https://www.bupa.co.uk/health/health-insurance/bupa-cancer-promise/understanding-cancer

    https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/diagnosis/talking-about-cancer/talking-to-children-and-teenagers

    If you type right hemi colectomy in the search box at the top of the screen then it will bring up previous posts and maybe  could offer some advice?

    https://bcuk.adidocdn.dev/Publications/Your_Operation/Bowel_Cancer_UK_Your_Operation_Booklet.pdf

    Take care

    Karen x

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • Hi  ,  Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  In terms of preparation for this, try to be as active as possible in the weeks before the operation.  They'll keep telling you 'movement is magic' and I really believe this.  Eat as well as you can and try to minimise alcohol (if you drink), tricky over Xmas I know as I'm right there with you right now  :-).

    Being strong and healthy physically will help you to heal faster.  I have another major op at the end of Jan and I'm trying to get as much physical activity in as possible over the Christmas break (as well as now, but it's very tricky with both full time work and an abundance of hospital appointments).

    Mentally - I listen to hypnosis relaxation recordings, but exercise I also find very helpful for my brain too.

    It is a big op, but I had no pain at all after the operation.  It was just uncomfortable/more tricky to move for several weeks and it takes a while for the bowel to adjust to having a section missing.

    If it helps I'm no where near as worried about this next op (which is much bigger) than I was about my left hemi colectomy.  Now I know what's coming I know it's not as bad in real life as it is in my head. 

    I hope you enjoy Christmas and best wishes for the procedure/recovery.

    CerysM

  • Hi,

    I would echo CerysM good advice on movement and recovery. 

    I've had 6 abdominal surgeries for colon cancer. My first surgery was a right hemicolectomy.

    I'm not a fitness bunny (no running etc) but I walk a lot and swim some, and what i've noticed over the years - if I was walking fit, I felt 'stronger' after surgery, and recovered better, and interestingly I came off oxygen quicker. So I would strongly recommend some moderate exercise like walking (or whatever exercise you like doing) to prepare. 

    Mentally, I find walking in nature is brilliant for my brain, just helps me process things, and 're-centers' me. 

    You are very lucky that tumour has not spread, so while the op may sound daunting now, try focus on that massive postive. The body adapts really well, and while there will be a recovery period when you will be on a restricted diet, eventually one gets back to normal and life goes on. 

    Wishing you the very best. 

  • in reply to Kareno62

    Thanks, this is really useful Slight smile x

  • in reply to CerysM

    Thanks for the advice. I’m not very good at relaxing so might give the hypnosis relaxation a go!

    Good luck with your next op, it sounds like you’re going into it with a great mindset x

  • Hi, I'm going through similar myself, found a cancer following routine home bowel screening, feeling very fortunate that I did the test as had no symptoms, just had second round of chemo to attempt to shrink it, surgery is planning late jan.been told I am having approx 50/60% of my colon removed, sort of eager to get the hostage removed but very daunting. Hope you're treatment goes well and positive results all round 

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