New to forum new to rectal cancer...have questions

mike3 · Regular Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

Hello Everyone,

Not sure what stage of rectal cancer I have but will know more tomorrow. Doctors plan is to do laparoscopic surgery. Removing most of the rectum and hooking the colon to whats left.
He will also be removing the blood supply to the rectum/colon. Then cutting the colon loose so it will reach the rectum that is left.

He told me at first I will have 4 or 5 bowel movments a day. And after a year or so it would be less as I learned to manage it, but never will be the way it was.

Anyone have this done ? Is Laparoscopic surgery ok for rectal cancer ? Many things I read say not really, more for colon cancer.

Thanks
Mike3

denise1966 · Regular Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Michigan

Hi Mike,
I'm also having laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer. They staged me clinically as a stage III with an ultrasound. I did the chemo and radiation, now I'm scheduled for surgery on tuesday. What tests have they run on you? Did they do a CT scan ?
I checked with my surgeon and then had a second opinion and both doctors told me that lap surgery is ok.
I wish you the best in your upcoming surgery. Let me know if I can help you with any other questions.

Denise

DulcimerGal

Hi Mike,

welcome to the forum - we have some great people who post on here, not sure though if we have any others who had laproscopic surgery, I'm sure there is someone though who can share!

You'll have to update your profile and let us know where you live. I hope you'll continue to post and update us. There are several regulars on here, and of course others who come and go......and then there are the lurkers.....I was one for a while.....Do please keep posting, I think it encourages all of us to keep getting updates on each other.

If you read down the old posts - you will find that there are several who say the 4-5 times a day bowel movements are better than the colostomy .....

As for me - I'm gonna take whatever I wake up with on June 18th - I'm getting a bit nervous about getting cut open.

SO - does anyone else out there have advice before surgery to give to Mike, Denise and I???

DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th
6 months Chemo to follow

mike3 · Regular Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

Hi Denise

I did have a ultra sound a week before the colonoscopy. Never did get that report. I will ask tomorrow.
Right after the colonoscopy they told me I had cancer. Then drank the white stuff and down to have a ct with dye.
They "think" it is still inside the rectum wall at this point ?? The dr told me chemo and radiation after if they feel it's needed.
Tomorrow he wants to do his own "like a mini colonoscopy" to see how far in the tumer is for sure. I think surgery is next weds for me.

Good luck to you and thank you for your reply.

best reguards
Mike

DulcimerGal

While previewing this post I see you posted. I'm a slow typer. Thank for the welcome.
I can understand you getting a bit nervous, I'm sure that's part of the deal.
What we wake up with is what we'll live with.
Best of luck to you also.
Thanks Gals
Mike

REB

I didn't really prepare for my surgeries. I was in such bad shape for the first one, and it was so sudden. The second one I was just ready to do it and get it over with.

If you have to have a colostomy, then you got to have it. They are something we can live with and get used to. But if there are alternatives, I would consider them. I had one for seven months. Most of the time it won't bother you and you will forget about it, but sometimes it can be a real pain. It can also really hurt your self image, I know it did with me. But I did adjust to it and it became a normal part of my life. We do what we got to do to stay alive.

I am praying for both of you.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

Rotorhead · Regular Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 26 Location: Hawaii

Hi all. First post here. As far as preparing for surgery, I tried to get as fit as possible between the end of chemo/rad and the surgery (about four weeks). I ate well, tried to exercise daily and eliminated all the stress from life that I could.

My surgery was about as easy as they come. I had zero pain and was out of the hospital in 5 days. The only pain was during the removal of the abdominal drain, which was only for a second (but what a second it was).

I ended up with a permanent stoma. It has not slowed me down...but I'm a pretty adaptable guy.

Hope this helps. Stay positive and you'll be fine.

Aloha,
RH
_________________
Diagnosed Stage 3 rectal cancer Nov 07
6 weeks chemo/rad Dec 07/Jan 08
Surgery (TME) 11 Feb 08
6 months FOLFOX started March 08
My blog: http://rotorheadsblog.blogspot.com/

DulcimerGal

Hi and welcome Rotorhead!

Thanks for such a positive post!
You must have had some great surgeons and care too - plus staying fit beforehand helped I am sure.

Thanks for the encouragement!
Hope your chemo is going well too

Thanks for the advice
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th
6 months Chemo to follow

DulcimerGal

Mike and Denise -

It just dawned on me that you both may have had your surgeries by now.

I'm praying for you both that everything has gone well.
Do let us know how you are doing as soon as you can.

God bless
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th
6 months Chemo to follow

mike3 · Regular Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

DulcimerGal

I'm still waiting for a surgery date. I was told this week or next.

Thanks
Mike

mike3 · Regular Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

Got my call a few minutes ago, DulcimerGal surgery 6/18 for me also.

Good luck !

brainman

Mike, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.... especially of the 18th. Good luck.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

DulcimerGal

Wow Mike - we are twins having TME on the same day!!!

Let's see who can get out of the hospital first.....my bet is on you since yours is laproscopic, you'll probably have less down time....!!

My Doc says up to one week hospital stay - but I will definitely be thinking of you on JUne 18th as I go in for my own surgery!

Let's pray we both get good news about the staging, once they take it all out I am going to be hovering and awaiting that pathology report....

Cheers
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th
6 months Chemo to follow

Rotorhead · Regular Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 26 Location: Hawaii

Hey both of you, I had lapro TME in Feb, on a monday morning, and walked out of the hospital on Friday. Granted I am somewhat of a superman (as well as modest and handsome) but all in all:
1. No pain. Aside from momentary pain when moving around initially, I never got past 3 on the pain scale. I hade an epidural which was removed that wednesday. I rarely used the "pushbutton" narcs.
2. Smaller incision. Two little ones left and right, the left became the ostomy, the right held a drain tube for 4 days. The main incision (used to removed the tissue) ran from just below my navel down about 5-6 inches. Doc said if it was non-laproscopic, it would have went up several more inches, and the recovery time would be a bit longer. My cutters are true supermen.
3. Fairly quick recovery. Went on neighborhood walks within a week, started running in 7 weeks, and basically back in full battery at 12 weeks (although the follow-on chemo gives me fatigue).

The worst part of the whole thing was using a catheter (just weird, and no fun coming out) and the abdominal drain (hurt when coming out).

I wish you both the best of luck with the surgery, and hope that the pathology comes back with good news, and that they can eventually connect all the pieces back together...but if not, a permanent colostomy is not that bad (that's what I ended up with). Envision a healthy life after surgery and it will happen.
Aloha,
RH
_________________
Diagnosed Stage 3 rectal cancer Nov 07
6 weeks chemo/rad Dec 07/Jan 08
Surgery (TME) 11 Feb 08
6 months FOLFOX started March 08
My blog: http://rotorheadsblog.blogspot.com/

mike3 · Regular Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

DulcimerGal

They told me 3 to 5 days. Good luck !

Thanks for the good thought's everyone !

Mike

mike3 · Regular Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

I'm stiil in Hospital, Had a little set back with food, but they say it happens. Maybe 1 or 2 more days.

Best to all
Mike

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