How long is recovery from surgery?

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kimanne
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:47 pm
Facebook Username: kim.garner.goodrich
Location: Rochester, NY

How long is recovery from surgery?

Postby kimanne » Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:57 pm

Hi again, I have a recurrence of rectal cancer, 3 yrs after we blasted away the first tumor with chemo & radiation. The new mass is lower and was a surprise. My surgeon is going to take out the whole rectum ( I don't want another recurrence!) and plastic surgeons will take skin from my buttocks to fix up the area. My current skin situation in the rectal area is terrible, due to radiation. #1 - Has anyone ever had this plastic surgery done? Is it co
mmon? #2 - How long is this recovery, in general? I was told I may be in the hosp for 2 weeks and 8 - 12 weeks is "normal" healing time. Does this sound right to any of you that have been there? Thanks!
DX 11/10 st 3 at 45 yr
Folfox 1-4/11
Rad 5/11
6/11 Scan - Primary gone 2 LN-St 4
Folfox Avastin 8/11
Rad 10/11
1-12/12 Folfiri Avast
3/12-12/12 Scans,shrinking
1/13 5FU&Avastin
4/13 Avastin only-stable
5/14 STROKE
7/14 Recurrence
8/14 APR

sadysue
Posts: 986
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:59 pm
Location: Charleston, TN

Re: How long is recovery from surgery?

Postby sadysue » Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:22 am

I had my entire rectum removed plus several inches of colon (I had a 4 inch diameter tumor) and did not require any type of plastic surgery afterwards. Part of my remaining colon was attached to my sphincter muscle and is now my "new rectum." It works well :-) Good luck.
Rectal dx 4/2011 (Stage 3B - T3N1M0)
5FU/Rad - daily/6 wks ending 6/2011
Surgery 8/19/2011
Finished 8 rounds Folfox 2/2012
Ileo reverse and port out 3/2012
NED

Coppercent
Posts: 262
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:00 pm

Re: How long is recovery from surgery?

Postby Coppercent » Thu Jul 24, 2014 3:26 pm

I am assuming you are have an APR which I believe removes the rectum, anus, and sphincter muscle and more since yours must be very low. Many people that I have met that have an APR do have a plastic surgeon involved since there is so much removed and rearranged. I had a LAR that removed my entire rectum but preserved my sphincter muscle. I would assume a LAR is a much easier surgery than a APR. I was back to work after my LAR in three weeks that was done the old fashioned slice and dice. I could see where the APR needed 8-12 weeks healing time. It sounds like SadySue only had a LAR. Good Luck
07/15/11 Stage III Rectal, 08/11 - 09/11 Chemo/rad 11/11 LAR - Whole rectum gone, ostomy, hysterectomy
01/12 Port placed, 01/12 thru 06/12 Folfox, Xelox 10/03/12 Reversal, Clear scan
And then the story continues.
Currently, remission round two!


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