After several months of varying symptoms of other potential problems, a routine colonoscopy found a single cancerous polyp in my sigmoid colon. I am 51 years old and while I am out of shape and overweight, I have always been reasonably healthy. I received the diagnosis of stage 1 colon cancer on July 13th.
My prognosis is good at this point in time. Right now, I am waiting on the surgeon who will operate on me(should he determine I do need surgery, which he thinks I will) to view some slides and review them with a pathologist. When he views them, then I'll go for a consult and hopefully get a date for surgery.
What I want to know, is what can I expect? The surgeon will open me up, not do it laproscopically. What can I expect in terms of hospitilazation, treatment, medications, recovery time, etc, etc. Also, how will this effect the plans my wife and I to move from Florida to Nebraska in September, should I have the surgery before we move? How long could I expect to have to stay away from lifting heavy things, driving, things like that? I know all cases are different, but I'd like a general idea of what to expect.
Thanks. I look forward to your replies.