Hello Betty, 

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to come here and share this update which I am sure will be invaluable to others who are going through something similar at the moment. 

I am so pleased to hear you have recovered well from surgery even if it sounds like it was a bit tough at the beginning and it's great that you are coping with the ileostomy bag so well. It's great news that you won't need any further treatment after this and that they will be monitoring you with regular colonoscopies. 

You're absolutely right though that it is important to push for answers and to trust your gut when you feel something needs looking into. 

Best of luck for the next steps - we hope it all goes well for you! Thanks so much for coming here to share your experience with us. Do keep sending us some updates on how things are going for you. 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Betty

Your situation sounds very similar to mine. I had a LAR in July due to rectal cancer (T!) and a temp ileostomy. Im waiting for the result of the enema x ray which I had in November. 

How did you get on?

Have you had your reversal andd how long did you have to wait for it? I have been told there is a waiting list for reversal.

Thanks

Marshian

Hi Marshian,

Thanks for getting in touch, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. How are you getting on now? Have you had the results from your histology? 
 

I just had my appointment to discuss reversal this week. My first set of bloods, CEA levels and CT scan all came back ok, and my enema test in July was all fine too. I've now been given a provisional date for reversal in February, so fingers crossed that gets confirmed soon! In total, if they go ahead with the Feb date, I will have had my ileostomy for 9 months. I believe 6 months to a year is the average time for reversals. 
 

I have been a bit nervous about possible side effects following the operation as I've read a lot about low anterior resection syndrome online. The surgeon told me that in my case, with the amount of colon I had removed being about 15cms, that the chance of getting severe LARS is about 2%, so that's made me feel a bit more assured. It's just nerve wracking isnt it not knowing for sure how you will cope when you're reversed and things go back to "normal". Anyway I'll be glad to have the operation and getting the next hurdle over with! 
 

I hope you are doing well,

Betty 

xXx

HI Betty

So glad you have a provisional date. 

Im having blood tests in January and am told I will get the result of the xray early in January too so im hoping all is well and I can go on the waiting list.

I know what you mean about the reversal, it is nerve racking and so many different experiences. Like you I had surgery and no other treatment was needed so in that sense we are lucky.

It would be good to keep in touch as our experiences are similar so far.

I am in west yourkshire, wherabouts are you? I have been told the same about waiting times, six to twelve months.

I am 59 years old and in good health otherwise, no other co-morbidities as they say. I follow some You tubers who have had positive experiences of reversals which makes me feel better.

Are you managing to stay active and get on as I think the stronger you are going in to any op helps.

Glad to have found you on here 

Hi Betty! I was diagnosed with bowel cancer about 2 weeks ago, I'd been suffering with symptoms for a long time, so to be honest it wasn't the biggest surprise when they actually found something!! I'm going to be having my sgidmoid removed in January at somepoint, not looking forward to the afterwards at home, I'm a single mum, so will have to look after my 8year old too, so I'm hoping shel give me an easy ride and let me have lots of naps!! Glad to hear that other than your reversal, that you won't need anymore treatments! I'm hoping for the same, but obvs won't know until the op and they test my nodes! I've had my ct so know it hasn't spread thank god!!! How are you getting on now? Is the tiredness better? 

Hi Betty, I'm 52 and I had a colonoscopy 3 weeks ago. They found a poly and took 3 biopsies. I was anxiously waiting for the biopsy results when out of the blue I had a phone call from CT at my local hospital to say I needed to be booked for an emergency ct! Booked for next day then I get a call to say I needed to be booked in for MRI. I still had no idea why, or what was happening so it was all very scary. 2 days after my scans a clinical letter appeared on my NHS app that said they had seen some potentially concerning changes in the biopsies. So although I am so grateful for the speed at which it has all happened I have really no idea what it all means. I guess what I want to ask you is in your experience, would they have mentioned cancer in the letter initially? Or do they like to discuss it face to face? I'm clutching at straws I know but I'm still hopeful potentially concerning doesn't mean its definitely cancer. Tia kerry