Up Date post surgery Positive out look !!!

fred1247
fred1247 Member Posts: 19
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi everyone just wanted to up date everyone on my surgery and out come. Had surgery on October 30th on a tumor located mid level rectum about 9.cm up from anus. The surgeon did a hand assisted laproscopic procedure. My surgeon was not sure if they would have enough good margin to reconnect so he made me aware I could have a full time colostomy if there was not enough good tissue to work with. Well the good news is that the radiation and chemo pre surgery shrunk, the tumor significantly and allowed the surgeon good margins to re connect. I have a temporary transverse colostomy that he will reverse in 6 to 8 weeks, my surgeon wanted the connection point to rest and heal because of the radiation. Another bit of good news is that the surgeon pulled 17 lymph nodes and none were positive for cancer, I thought that was some great news also. I am home now re cooperating from the surgery and not feeling too bad a little sore but getting better every day. In total I was in the hospital for a total of 9 days. I am meeting with the my oncologist to see if there is any more chemo after all of this, but I have the greater part of this journey behind me, I hope.......

Comments

  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #2
    Awesome news!
    I am praying your recovery continues to go well! That is great news of no lymph involvement! Can't wait to hear what your onc says! Stay strong!
    mary
  • fred1247
    fred1247 Member Posts: 19
    #3
    msccolon said:

    Awesome news!
    I am praying your recovery continues to go well! That is great news of no lymph involvement! Can't wait to hear what your onc says! Stay strong!
    mary

    Good News
    Thanks Mary, My surgeon thinks that more chemo may not be needed but again that is only his opinion.
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #4
    Surgery success
    Dear Fred:

    Glad to hear about your success. I too have a similar tumor and soon to begin the pre-surgery chemo/radiation. I was told of the potential for a permanent colostomy. Some hope remains much like your story and I hold onto this possibility. I was suprized by the number of days in the hospital for the surgery. I have not received the surgery details. I wonder if an extended stay is in my future as well.

    I have been reading about this term NED (no evidence of Disease). I hope and pray you find yourself in this happy club. I look forward to joining you soon.

    Best of luck.

    Mike
  • fred1247
    fred1247 Member Posts: 19
    #5
    menright said:

    Surgery success
    Dear Fred:

    Glad to hear about your success. I too have a similar tumor and soon to begin the pre-surgery chemo/radiation. I was told of the potential for a permanent colostomy. Some hope remains much like your story and I hold onto this possibility. I was suprized by the number of days in the hospital for the surgery. I have not received the surgery details. I wonder if an extended stay is in my future as well.

    I have been reading about this term NED (no evidence of Disease). I hope and pray you find yourself in this happy club. I look forward to joining you soon.

    Best of luck.

    Mike

    Surgery Success
    Mike, the hospital stay was a day or two longer than expected due to a bladder issue, and a slight fever post surgery, was nothing big they were just taking precautions. The Radiation and chemo pre surgery sure went a long way to shrink the tumor for the surgeon and give him much more to work with. Where is the location of your tumor, mine was in the rectum about 9.0 cm from the anus. Is yours in the same area and location. All of the best with the chemo and radiation treatments, I know how you feel I was in your shoes not to many months ago and now I am looking forward to some closure to this story.
  • trainer
    trainer Member Posts: 241
    #6
    Great news!
    Great to hear the good news for you. I'm winding down from my surgery too and tomorrow I get the staples removed!! Yippee! They are itchy and annoying.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #7
    Fantastic!
    That's just great! I pray that you do have the worst part of this behind you.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • fred1247
    fred1247 Member Posts: 19
    #8
    trainer said:

    Great news!
    Great to hear the good news for you. I'm winding down from my surgery too and tomorrow I get the staples removed!! Yippee! They are itchy and annoying.

    Great News
    Trainer, I think we are on the same schedule, I had my staples removed yesterday also, lost a lot of weight post surgery due to not being able to eat. I am now getting ready for the next surgery to re attach my colon and get rid of this temporary colostomy.
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375 Member
    #9
    fred1247 said:

    Great News
    Trainer, I think we are on the same schedule, I had my staples removed yesterday also, lost a lot of weight post surgery due to not being able to eat. I am now getting ready for the next surgery to re attach my colon and get rid of this temporary colostomy.

    Fabulous News!!
    Fred... what excellent news to be reading!! I'm so happy for you... and of course, it'll all be good news from here on in!! :)

    Hugggggs,

    Cheryl

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