Surgery

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tko683
tko683 Member Posts: 264 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
My husband was diagnosed in June with state 4 rectal cancer with mets in his liver. He had his 2nd FOLFOX chemo today. We were told that he would have 2-3 months of chemo, and then the chemo radiation combination and then the colon surgery. Does anybody else have a similar diagnosis and can offer some advice and information about how bad the surgery is, how long in hospital etc. Also looking for advice about the liver surgery part which I think will be after all of the above. He has never been sick in his life so this is hard for him. And I also battled cancer for 4 years myself so our family is feeling like cancer is really taking over. Any information would be greatly appreciated. thanks Teri

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  • dianelynn41
    dianelynn41 Member Posts: 71
    #2
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    Hello
    My husband has stage 3 rectal cancer, no experience with the liver at this point. He did the xeloda and radiation and then had the surgery. He's now on 12 rounds of Folfox.

    Radiation was really hard on him towards the end of it, use lots of the creams, he'll feel better about 2 weeks after radiation is over.

    His surgery stay was suppose to be 7 days, turned into 2 weeks, he had some complications at the incision site and they had to open him a 2nd time. They had him up walking really quick and they said the more he walked the better so he always did more than required. Your husband will need to eat whatever they want him to, he'll do better if he can keep his strength up.

    But he's doing good now, all healed up, just having a drainage problem where the rectum use to be.

    Good luck
    Diane
  • tko683
    tko683 Member Posts: 264 Member
    #3
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    dianelynn41 said:

    Hello
    My husband has stage 3 rectal cancer, no experience with the liver at this point. He did the xeloda and radiation and then had the surgery. He's now on 12 rounds of Folfox.

    Radiation was really hard on him towards the end of it, use lots of the creams, he'll feel better about 2 weeks after radiation is over.

    His surgery stay was suppose to be 7 days, turned into 2 weeks, he had some complications at the incision site and they had to open him a 2nd time. They had him up walking really quick and they said the more he walked the better so he always did more than required. Your husband will need to eat whatever they want him to, he'll do better if he can keep his strength up.

    But he's doing good now, all healed up, just having a drainage problem where the rectum use to be.

    Good luck
    Diane

    thanks
    Thanks Diane for the information. Glad to hear that your husband is doing well now. It sounds like you have had success with the treatments so far. That is great news. I hope it continues as you he starts the FOLFOX. My husband is doing OK on the FOLFOX so far but very anxious about the surgeries. Thanks again. Teri
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #4
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    Hello Teri
    On December 20, 2010, I had colon, liver and ureter surgeries on that same day with 3 different surgeons taking their turns, 9 1/2 hours of surgery. Was in the ICU I think two days (thanks to drugs you just don't remember)and then 5 more days in hospital. After you start getting up and walking (3rd day)then you start feeling better. The drugs are great so you're not in a lot of pain.
    First week home is rough, second week is GOOD and by third week I believe I was doing housework. Honestly, about the same as a C-Section recovery (I've had 3 of those)so I would say for a man, it will probably be a LONGER recovery just because they don't know the word suffering (having babies)and tend to think it's the end of the world so tend to complain a bit more (LOL).
    Hope this helps, if you have any more questions, ask away.
    Winter Marie

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