CALLING ALL RECTAL CANCER ,POST SURGERY, NEED EXPERIENCED ADVICE

I had a colon resection on
I had a colon resection on May 15, 2009 (Rectal Stage III – No tumor). Approx. 6" was removed. I was in the hospital for 3 nights. I slept in a recliner when I got home since I was not comfortable in the bed. It was easy for me to get up and down by myself that way and I used a comforter and was cozy.
Things went better than I expected. If you have more questions, please feel free to ask. That's why we are here - to support each other.
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I was prescribed a Low Residue Diet after my surgery.
---------A low residue diet eliminates coarse fiber and other indigestible material that may cause distress to the gastrointestinal tract and designed to reduce the volume and frequency of bowel movements. It is similar to a low fiber diet, but also restricts milk and milk products and prunes.
This is some info I found which may help you and your family.
Details of the procedure-------------
*** What do I need to do before surgery?
Please contact your insurance company to verify the coverage and determine whether a referral is required. You will be asked to pre-register with the appropriate hospital and provide demographic and insurance information. This must be completed at least five to ten days before the surgery date. Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for the procedure.
***Before surgery, your colon will need to be emptied. Your physician will give you directions on how to do this. You may be put on a liquid diet and instructed to drink a solution that will induce diarrhea. You may also be instructed to give yourself an enema.

***What happens on the day of surgery?
You will report to a pre-operative nursing unit, where you will change into a hospital gown. A nurse will review your chart and confirm that all paperwork is in order. You will be taken to a pre-operative nursing unit where an anesthesiologist will start an IV. Before any medications are administered, your surgeon will verify your name and the type of procedure you are having. You will then be taken to the operating room. After the appropriate form of anesthesia is administered, surgery will be performed.
What type of anesthesia will be used?
You will have a pre-operative interview with an anesthesiologist who will ask you questions regarding your medical history. Colon resections are performed under general anesthesia, which will keep you asleep during your surgery.
*** What happens during the surgery, and how is it performed?
If your surgery is performed laproscopically, your surgeon will make three to four small incisions, and insert tube-like instruments through them. The abdomen will be filled with gas to help the surgeon view the abdominal cavity. A camera will be inserted through one of the tubes that will display images on a monitor in the operating room. In this manner, your surgeon will be able to work inside your abdomen without making a larger incision.
Your surgeon will perform the colon resection with the laparoscopic method unless other factors require open surgery. If the procedure will be performed with the open method, your surgeon will make one larger incision to enable him or her to view and repair the colon.
Once inside, the surgeon will clamp off the diseased section of colon and then cut it free. The diseased colon will be removed, and the healthy colon stitched back together. In some cases, a colostomy (link to colostomy procedure) may be performed.
***** What happens after the surgery?
Once the surgery is completed, you will be taken to a post-operative or recovery unit, where a nurse will monitor your progress. It is important that your bandages be kept clean and dry. Mild discomfort may occur at the incision site, so your surgeon may prescribe pain medication. You will be scheduled for a follow-up appointment within two weeks after your surgery.
**** How long will I be in the hospital?
Most patients are in the hospital from five to seven days with an open colon resection and three to five days with a laparoscopic colon resection. You may need a ride home when discharged from the hospital.
What are the risks associated with a colon resection?
As with any surgery, there are risks such as bleeding, infection, or an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Other risks include injury to the ureter, bowel, or spleen, and anastomotic dehiscence, which is the separation or leaking of the sutured colon. Your physician will inform you of the risks prior to surgery.
*** What should I watch out for?
Be sure to call your doctor if any of the following symptoms appear:
• Fever
• Worsening pain
• Redness or swelling around the incision
• The incision is warm to the touch
• Drainage from the incision
Will there be scar(s)?
If the procedure is performed laparoscopically the incisions should heal well, leaving small discrete scars. If the open method is used, a larger scar will be present.
*** When can I expect to return to work and/or resume normal activities?
This can vary from patient to patient. There are no restrictions after laparoscopic colon resection. You will be encouraged to return to normal activities such as showering, driving, walking up stairs, light lifting, and work as soon as you feel comfortable. Some patients can return to work in a few weeks while others prefer to wait longer. You should not perform heavy lifting or straining for six to eight weeks after open surgery. If you are taking narcotic medications for pain, you should not drive.

*** While you are in the hospital for recovery, stay ahead of the pain curve and if you have discomfort, don't be afraid to ask the nurse for the pain killers. Even when you start feeling better, and you will, stay on the pain meds. They make the stay more bearable.
Also, get up for a walk as soon as you can. They won't let you out until your system kicks back in and the signal for this is passing gas. Walk as much as you can while in the hospital.
Holding a smaller pillow over the incision area. The pillow is comforting. Don't be afraid to ask for an escort while you walk, you wouldn't want to trip or fall.
**** You will also be very, very thirsty in the beginning and they'll just give you crushed ice, but if you can tolerate it, you can have more.
It takes about 3 months to be back to yourself. So, don't push going back to work or your normal routine too quickly, it will be tempting. Try to stay busy with books, light housework, TV, Internet while you are home. Get outside and walk as much as possible.
Also, if they use staples on your incisions, when they take them out, it's no big deal, most of them I didn't even feel. A couple were only a tickle while being removed. None was painful.

Hi Winney,my hubby is going
Hi Winney,my hubby is going to have surgery in Sep,so I haved posted the same question as you do,this is the link of discussion I had before,hope this is helpful:
http://csn.cancer.org/node/172572
http://csn.cancer.org/node/172743

My rectal tumor was in the first rectal fold....
My surgery removed all of my rectum and my sigmoid colon, and converted my descending colon into a 'new' rectum...called a J-pouch proceedure....it works VERY well, and I am past 4 years since my surgery. I had radiation and chemo before my surgery. It was no 'walk in the park', but it was doable...and survivable (obviously...ROFL!).

Be prepared to have a few challenges after surgery. My first year was fairly narly, but that was due in part to my second 'primary site' cancer (breast this time) diagnosis and treatment. I learned that I needed to drink plenty of water, and watch the constipation...seemed to lapse into bowel obstructions (9 total). So I didn't take much Immodium, although for others, it's a Godsend! Ask about post-surgical exercise...what and when and how long...that first year is soooooo important!!!

Please keep us posted...

Hugs, Kathi

Hey Whinney
Rectal cancer survivor here. Did not have chemo first, they thought it was stage 2, found out it was stage 3 at surgery. Then chemo. They wanted radiation, but I refused for a number of reasons.

1. My tumor was not through the wall. I only had one positive lymph node that bought me the chemo.
2. Rectal cancer chemo hits a squarish/rectangle that includes the 2 largest storages of bone marrow in your body. If it kills off too much bone marrow, you can get lukemia.
3. 1 in 3 chance of losing control of bladder. I was only 43 at the time. I'm too active and was not going for that.
4. Once you have radiated something, it's been done. I had no mets. If I end up with more colon cancer, I will still have the radiation card to play if I decide to.
5. Iliac arteries in both hips are in the path of the radiation. My best friend's mother died after these were so damaged from radiation for rectal cancer.

These were my reasons after I told all the doctors to BACK OFF and let me think and research. I did what I knew that I could live with. If my cancer comes back, I can handle it. If I'd lost bladder control, had vascular damage, gotten lukemia... any of those AND the cancer would have still come back. I would be a basket case.

You do what you know is going to be okay for YOU. Don't be told by anyone. I also met with a vascular surgeon before making my decision and he said I was in great shape and he would say to do the radiation. My onc and chemo nurse agreed whole-heartedly with my decision.

As for what to ask your surgeon. The most disconcerting thing for me was going home with an illeostomy that was an "innie" rather than an "outie". Ostomy nurse at the hospital said it was one of the hardest to care for she had ever seen. My home health care nurse had no idea how to deal with it. My surgeon did not want to deal with it. As him how he cuts an ostomy and if it's in or out. Ask him who you have to turn to for help with it besides the internet. (I know of a great ostomy board if you ever need it). Ask him why he would NOT do an ostomy so that your incision has time to heal properly without bowel moving through it.

Just what I've been through and a few things I wish I'd known. Good luck to you, hon.
Pam