Hello Pevans,

                     you will not be unique in having been told this since there are plenty of us out there that have been through the same thing, Every one will be different and unique to the patient,and l use the descriptor deliberately since that is what you will need to be if opting for no stoma, as your body functions learn to readjust.

l understand why you feel the surgery option to be huge, but the siting of the tumour dictates the available option, be thankful that you have caught it at an early stage and it has not migrated elsewhere.

l can sympathise with your feelings but not sure l can offer too much in the way of further advice since it will be a personal journey of discovery as to the scale and length of recovery, only to say it will improve over time,

   Hope it goes as gently for you as is possible,

                                                                             David

Thanks David for giving me perspective. You're absolutely right, it is treatable and I am thankful for that. Onwards into whatever comes next, I think I'm still in shock that I have cancer so acting out accordingly

Thank you! I'm much calmer now. I'm actually having an exam under anaesthetic tomorrow so they can see if any way to avoid the bag. It will be with chemo/radio though as you say. I have moved my mind set to at least I'm alive, and it's proving a much happier place!

thanks for the pep talk!

Ah that's good news! Fingers crossed the chemo-radiotherapy is enough to get rid of it without the need for a bag. Good luck - I hope everything goes well :)

Hello,

Do you mind me asking if the chemo/radiotherapy did anything to your husbands tumour or is this a second tumour that has brought him to permanent colosomy?

I am just finished chemo/radiotherapy and presently in that moment of limbo waiting to see if it has killed the cancer. If not permanent colostomy is plan B.

Thank you

Hi Shalaway,

He had recurrence of the primary cancer which led to the permanent colostomy. 
He had chemo-radiation initially in 2018 which had a complete response (it had completely worked and nothing left) but unfortunately it came back in 2022 in the same place. He's just had his first scan post surgery and so far so good. 
How are you doing? I remember it hit my husband hard and he was quite poorly following the chemo-radiation. Hopefully it will have killed the cancer - his oncologist said that it is the most effective way of killing it but preserving the bowel/rectum. Have you had your first scan?

Hi

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated.

I have not had my first scan yet. I just completed my chemo/radiotherapy on the 10th March and had two weeks of absolute hell after treatment but I seem to be making improvement now but it scares me to think that a) It might still be there & b) If its gone, it might come back and then radiotherapy is not an option.

I am not worried about the possibility of a permanent colostomy, having worked within the NHS for over 20yrs I became no stranger to these things which makes the prospect not so scary.