Survivorship After Resection: Learning What Works?

Amri1

Hello everyone 🤍

I’m really grateful to be here. I’m a 51-year-old mom of two (one in middle school, one in high school), and a colorectal cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with stage IIIA rectal cancer in late 2020. After four rounds of FOLFOX and 30 rounds of radiation, I was declared NED and chose a watch-and-wait approach in hopes of avoiding surgery.

In 2022, I experienced a local recurrence and ultimately had resection surgery, with my rectum removed and a new one created by pulling down my colon. It was a lot — physically, emotionally, and mentally — and I know many of you here understand that in a way few others can.

I’m now three years NED and deeply grateful for that. These days, my focus is on living well and learning how to manage the bowel dysfunction that comes with survivorship after resection. I’ve made real progress over time, and I’m able to live a full life — parenting, working, traveling — but it’s been a journey of patience, experimentation, and listening closely to my body. Some of what’s helped me includes regular exercise, keeping a food journal, eliminating gluten and dairy and other hard-to-digest foods, supplements, digestive teas, and a lot of trial and error.

I’m here because I’d truly love to connect with others who’ve had resection surgery and are navigating bowel dysfunction too — to share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and to simply feel less alone in it. I believe so much healing happens when we’re honest with one another about the parts of survivorship that don’t always get talked about.

If any part of my story resonates with you, I’d love to connect. Thank you for being here and for the courage it takes to show up in spaces like this.