I have surgery coming up

[megan120]

Last week I had a pet/ct for restaging after 6 rounds of folfox with avastin. I have had good response, with my tumor being smaller and less active. My original plan was 6 rounds, then surgery (hysterectomy, removing the rest of my colon and a polyp in my rectum, and (hopefully) a take down), then 6 more rounds. After getting the results, my oncologist questioned whether my surgeons would want me to have the full 12 rounds to further shrink the tumor. They decided to stick to the original plan. So I am going to be scheduled for surgery soon. Next Thursday will be 6 weeks from my last Avastin, which is the soonest they will do surgery. I am scared. I have never had such a big surgery scheduled ahead of time. I had scheduled C-sections, but this seems so much bigger. I'm not even sure what the recovery will be like, what I can expect while I am in the hospital, etc. I will be meeting with my surgeons before surgery, I assume, so I will get those questions answered then. I am just a bundle of nerves. I think I was secretly hoping that they would delay the surgery for more chemo.

[juliej]

Megan120, I hadn't even been in a hospital prior to my CRC surgery, so I know how scary it can be! Write a list of questions and take it with you to your appointment with the surgeon so you can get answers to everything that's worrying you. Ask about getting an epidural, pain control, length of stay in hospital, recovery time, etc. At my hospital (MSKCC) I found I could also get a lot of answers from the nurse during the pre-surgical testing. Try to eat healthy and get some gentle exercise in the next week or so. That way your body will be at its strongest for the surgery.

Hugs to you!
Julie

[Teddi]

I'm right "behind" you with my surgery coming up next month. I know exactly how you feel. Can't sleep or keep my mind quiet. Csections were much easier because of the prize at the end. Ostomy is not a prize....

Hang in there,
Teddi