looking for a success story someone who's recovering or recovered from anal cancer and colostomy

baotze52 said:

Anal cancer and Colostomy
I am new on this board, But I think I would like to share my story with you. I am 53 yrs old female. Had cervical cancer about 16 yrs ago, After my hysterectomy, Pathologist found a tiny tumor in one of lymph node which put me through 5 wks of radiation treatment. 16yrs later, Oct. 2008 I was diagnosed again with Anal cancer. This time I can't have radiation tx as an option, so I was given another surgery - Abdominal Perineal Resection to form a Colostomy. Unfortunately, due to previous invisible radiation damage to my bowel, After surgery I had real tough time due to blockage and sluggish movement of my bowel, I had 2 nd surgery 3 weeks after the first to unblock my intestine. During that time ,I could barely eat or drink, It went on for two months. Right before my surgeon was planning for the 3rd surgery, All of the sudden my bowel started to move, During that time I have lost a lots of weight and most time was extremely dehydrated, I Was given PICC line to keep me alive. Before surgery, I was extremely concerned about colostomy, poop bag and all that......After have gone through nearly starve to death experience, You know what? I am so happy today, At least, I can eat and I am alive. Colostomy became my least issue, Once you get used to it, the bag is so easy to take care of. During this hot summer I am always in my short and nobody even notice the bag. During my sickness, I truly found out that life is too precious to waste, Don't let Colostomy scare you, Prepare your surgery well, Be aware! Your radiated bowel may take longer to recover than you anticipated.I wish your husband all the best, Please let me know if you have any more question that I can help you with.
Baotze52

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Kezaus
Posts: 34
Joined: Jul 2010

Amy48 said:

Colostomy surgery
I am new here & was just looking for info. My friend was diagnosed with colon cancer in April. The cancer was so close to the rectum to avoid a total coloscopy & permanent bag he on June 1 started 5 weeks of radiation & chemo. He had the surgery on august 16 & was told it was successful. A stage 3. They removed 4 lymph nodes, he has a temp bag, after 1 mo. Recovery he is to start chemo for 5 months then they will reverse the coloscopy. The problem is he has been in horrific pain. He was discharged from hospital on august 21 but has been back twice. He got an infection & they had to remove the staples so mow he lies in bed with an opening from his belly button to his crotch, 2 inches deep & 1 inch wide. He has visiting nurse twice a day. He has to wear diaper for leakage & the dr. Is not sure spincter is working. I do not understand why they can't give him meds for the horrific pain. Anyone suffer this?

Hi,

i was diagnosed with ano-rectum cancer, 

i had gone through radiation+chemotherapy and then it was planned for APR surgery with an end colostom.

it been 6 month now, its working apsolutely fine by the grace of GOD,

Hi,

It seems all of our stories have similarities, yet differences unique to ourselves.

I was initially dx in 2011 with anal cancer stage 3b (pelvic lymph node involvement). I received the protocal chemo / rad. treatment and before starting had ostomy surgery (loop) which was intended to be reversed once healed. The radiation damage was severe and after consulting a specialist the decision was made to keep the ostomy permanent as the chance for success was VERY poor. In 2011 at a follow-up PET scan, I was NED on the anal cancer but dx with a rare breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. Then, in 2015 another follow-up led to the dx of recurrance of the anal cancer with mets to my lung and I had surgery to remove the lobe in which it was contained followed by aggressive chemo once again.

Through ALL of this, having the ostomy has been little if really any problem. I'll admit, the initial adjustment period may have had some trying moments, but once into a regular routine, it all seems quite natural to me. Everyone is different and will need to find their "groove" so to speak, but my life is full and definately not limited due to having an ostomy. I am active, chase grandkids around ball fields, hockey rinks, and water parks, in fact hitting up some pretty awesome waterslides myself!

APR surgery is a bit different than what I had (I still have my anus and rectum but it is "out of commision")...my colon was pulled through an incision in my abdomen to create the stoma, so the healing recovery time was much quicker. Since I did have my ostomy "prior" to the radiation part of the treatment, I dealt with related issues that way. The radiation caused my internal organs to swell and literally pushed about 5inches of colon out the stoma resulting in a very large prolapse that could not be treated during chemo due to risk of sepsis! Fortunately, the prolapse corrected itself a couple weeks after radiation and I have had no problems since.

I so agree with others who mention the great support on this forum. Our doctors (hopefully) know their thing, but unless they have personally experienced some of what we go through on a day to day basis, it is just not possible to relate to what we have to deal with. I was not part of this during my first year (now approaching 7 years ago) and it sure would have been a Godsend, had I not felt so lost and alone at that time.

I do wish everyone more good days than not so good as they move forward in health!

katheryn