WENT TO THE DOCTOR TODAY

I WAS DX IN JUNE OF 2004, HAD SURGERY TO REMOVE STAGE 2 RECTAL CANCER FOLLOWED BY 7 WEEKS OF 24/7 CHEMO(5FU) AND DAILY RADIATION THERAPY. THE SURGERY WAS ABLE TO BE DONE RECTALLY BECAUSE THE TUMOR WAS SO LOW. BUT EVER SINCE THE SURGERY, SCAR TISSUE IS FORMING THERE AND NARROWING THE COLON, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO HAVE A BM. I HAVE HAD A DILATION DONE 3 OR 4 TIME SINCE TO TRY AND STRETCH IT MORE OPEN. TODAY MY DOCTOR SAID TO TRY BENEFIBER DAILY TO MAKE MY STOOLS CONSISTANT (BECAUSE NOW I NEVER KNOW IF I AM GOING TO HAVE DIARRHEA OR BE CONSTIPATION). I HAVE TO STRAIN A LOT WHEN GOING TO THE BATHROOM. IF THE FIBER DOES CHANGE THE STRAINING AND DIARRHEA, THEN WE WILL TRY ONE MORE DILATION AND IF THAT DOESNT WORK, THEN HE WANT TO DO SURGERY. THE SURGERY WOULD BE TO CUT THAT SECTION OUT AND HOOK ME BACK UP.

MY QUESTION IS HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE NARROWING AT THE SURGERY SITE? AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO RESOLVE IT?

GINA