The Colon Club

Happy to say I've made some progress and a few decisions. Still having my surgery on 9/4 but I've secured an oncologist at MSK. They assured me I would not be able to have surgery before 10/15 so..... My CT scans show the cancer has not spread. Once I called MSK they ordered copies of all my test, pathology samples and I will be there one week after surgery. They will coordinate with my local oncologist and provide the second opinion and I will just transition there if I choose too. And I will if I need to follow a treatment plan or their opinions differ. That's an amazing hospital. I have been unable to get my radiology from the colonoscopy and yet they called and got it the same day and I'm not even a patient officially yet.

The CT results were somewhat of a relief but my surgeon said the bottom line is the actual result of the colectomy. So I'm still anticipating that test are not always 100% accurate.

I don't know what hospital you are slated to have your surgery in, but for the record my father was treated at Norwalk Hospital, and to say I was unimpressed would be an understatement. I'm sure they have competent doctors, but the way that the ward care was organized and carried out was definitely sub par. A huge contrast to my own experience at Maine Med, where the nursing staff and care is fabulous.

And Norwalk had terrible food.

Orange Regional Medical Center

I'm sorry for your diagnosis!*hugs* I had an open left hemicolectomy and don't know about recovery from surgery on the right. I had an epidural put in while in the OR which helped with pain. I have read that recovery from laparoscopic surgery is quicker than with open surgery. I was in the hospital for 6 or 7 days. Walking as soon as possible after surgery helps get the bowels working and can help with gas. I had the nurses give me a heated blanket(thick sheet really) for my stomach at night which helped with cramping. Hugging a pillow when coughing or sneezing helped it not pull on the incision as much. At home my boyfriend put everything where I could reach it without bending. Loose pants really helped. I had pillows on either side of me so that I wouldn't roll over onto my stomach or side. I hope your surgery goes well!*hugs*

Mistyblu, thinking of you today. Hope that all goes well.

Same, wishing you the best of recoveries and take it hour by hour. A little blood in your stool can be normal, so don't freak out. Try and get walking asap, even day 1 if they recommend it. Try to get off narcotics and switch to Tylenol/ibuprofen if they allow it. It should help the bowels get back to normal function.

I always ran constipated or infrequent all of my life. They will probably have you on a liquid diet for a little bit and colaise kept things soft and moving for me. You're not supposed to push so gravity will do the work. Now I'm using the bathroom 4-5 times a day so far and it's actually quite nice. Your new normal may be better than ever! Stay positive is what everyone keeps/kept telling me and it's hard sometimes but realize you caught it and are dealing with it. I had robotic lar and any questions or concerns, I'm always around.

Thank you all for thinking about me. The surgery went well yesterday. I am not in any pain. They have me on Tylenol 1000 and that's it. No BM yet so I'm not sure what I'm going home. Doc say it doesn't look like it spread and no lymph nodes. But we'll wait for pathology. The ONC is waiting as well. No plan for future treatment etc until pathology comes back.

MistyBlu wrote:... But we'll wait for pathology...

MistyBlu -

It's good to hear that your surgery went so well ! It may take a few days for things to settle down to the point where they will discharge you, however. It just takes time.

In the mean time, if you want to prepare yourself for the pathology report, here is a document that gives quite a lot of information -- probably more than you would ever want. But it may serve as a reference when the doctors start talking in technical terms. By the way, be sure to get a printed copy of the full pathology report. Don't settle for just an oral summary of the report by the doctor.

Structured Pathology Reporting of Colorectal Cancer Specimens
https://www.rcpa.edu.au/Library/Practising-Pathology/Structured-Pathology-Reporting-of-Cancer/Cancer-Protocols/Gastrointestinal/Protocol-colorectal-cancer

By the way, there are some subtle differences between left-side tumors and right-side tumors. You had a right-side tumor. There are some members here with right-side tumors who did quite a lot of research on right-side tumor characteristics. Maybe some of them will chime in here to give their impression.

Let me echo Jacques: get printed copies of your reports! You will find them useful going forward.

Also, if you cancer center has an online patient gateway, join it. You'll be able to see reports there also.

ETA: I somehow managed to miss your post-surgical post!

No lymph nodes and no mets: great news! Time to celebrate!! In that case, whether or not you and your team want to consider adjuvant chemo will probably depend on some more subtle factors. ( I think I may have described that scenario in another post, actually. )

Here's an article on the subject:

https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JOP.2016.017210

In the meantime, rest, heal, take pain meds when you need them--ie, don't be a hero --and walk when you can. I had an open procedure--can't recall what you were planning--so I was confined to ice chips the first day, and in fact eating too many of those made me throw up, the first and only time I've thrown up in this whole thing! When the eventually let me have a cup of bouillon, it was the most delicious thing in the world. Things I enjoyed in the hospital: my son read to me, I had them bring in a board game from home, and we all played Ticket to Ride. My son would walk with me, and we enjoyed visiting the huge aquarium in the junction of two halls, and named all the fish.

Your results sound great.

Boxhill/ Jacques thanks for the info. It will definitely come in handy.

I was so worked up about not having a bowel movement and now day 3 post op I’m have several smallpox bouts of diarrhea. And worse leaking diarrhea (sorry TMI). Im considering wearing diapers until I get some solid food. The nurse said this should stop when I’m eating solids.

I’m going home today.

I'm glad you're doing well!*hugs* Walk as much as possible because it helps to get the bowels moving again. I'm glad you have good pain control! Wonderful news from your surgeon!