Hello

Go for the surgery. Although radiation shrinks down the tumor a great deal in some cases, surgery is almost always needed to try to go for a cure. If you have radiation once, they are reluctant to do it a second time because of cumulative tissue damage unless it is the only thing left to do to to control severe pain after recurrance.

I suspect that your oncologist may make some general recommendations, but will wait until hearing the surgeon's report and getting the pathology reports before making final decisions about further chemotherapy.

Before my surgery I had notknown of anyone with an ostomy. I found there are a lot more people who have them than you would have guessed.

I got an ileostomy. I had had an obstruction due to radiation damage and had been unable to eat much of anything, so I had to be on TPN for 8 wks prior to surgery. I was so excited to be able to eat within a couple of days, I loved my ostomy from day one!

I thought I would have to buy new clothes, but didn't. I no longer very often wear the few pairs of snug jeans that I have because they are not quite as comfortable. Although I threw out one of my bathing suits, I found that my ostomy bag was incredibly inconspicuous under my other one. I was out walking, doing my own shopping within 2 wks of being discharged from the hospital and I flew to visit my sister 4 wks post op.

I had a few problems within the first month or so, and consulted an ostomy nurse for some additional pointers, but now I spend less than 30 minutes a week messing with it.

I would think that they would leave the port in until they know whether you might benefit from some post op chemo. Sounds like your port is different than mine. Mine is completely under my skin so that unless it is accessed I can take all the showers I want. Since I am stage 4 and still receive chemo, I have had my port since 6/02.

Best wishes,

Kris

Hi Judy. Congratulations on completing your chemoradiation! Hoorah! I certainly understand the feeling of not wanting to ever see the inside of the hospital again. However, I do want to urge you very strongly to go ahead with the surgery. Gotta give it your best shot, to completely rid yourself of the malignancy forever. I hope you are able to squeeze as much enjoyment out of this "break" as possible. Glad you are feeling reasonably well.

I didn't know for sure whether I would have post-surgical chemo until the biopsy results came back -- about 5 days after surgery. In my case, I did have to have post surgery chemo, because I had one positive lymph node. But I think it is possible I would have had the chemo anyway. My doctors were pretty aggressive, which was just fine with me -- I wanted to get rid of it all forever!

I had a permanent colostomy (my tumour was very low). Of course it is an adjustment - and I had my low moments. But, honestly, it is not that big a deal now. It took a while to sort out what pouch system I preferred, and to get the routine down, but now it is just a routine. I got out of hospital on a Friday (8 days after surgery). That day, I walked around the track. That Sunday, I ate out at a restaurant. I wear the same clothes as I did before. (Right after surgery, I went out and bought "old lady" underwear - only to discover that my presurgical bikini undies worked the best!). I hike, swim, travel, etc. I am now able to irrigate, which gives more freedom - this is something you might want to consider later (I had to wait until my chemo was finished before starting). There is a terrific discussion group at uoa.org -- full of information as well as support.

Wish you all the best.
Tara

Don't worry! It is not as bad as it seems. I thought it was going to be the worse thing in the world for my aunt. My aunt got use to it in no time. She went everywhere and anywhere. The only thing that she had to do was wear a shirt a little longer, nothing too short. You couldn't tell it was there. At least when you get diarrhea, you don't have to have a sore chapped behind. LOL...It just became a usual daily routine. She could even fart like the best of us! Don't let this keep you from having the surgery. You would regret it later by not having it done. The sooner you are able to have the surgery, the better. Too many people put things off and that is what hurts them the most. I hope this helps some.

Terri (Best wishes and God bless)