Hi Katrina,

I think we've 'chatted' on another of your threads. Do you know if your surgery will lead to an ileostomy or a colostomy? I have an ileostomy (right side of my body) and with this particular 'plumbing', irrigation is not an option. It's the colostomy that can be irrigated. 

I have joined a closed FaceBook site called The Colostomy Association - you request to join and any posts are discreet and don't show on ones usual Facebook page/account. 

It's been a wealth of information and advice to me from folks who understand what it's like to be a stomate. I had fantastic support from my stoma nurse following my surgery and in the few weeks after leaving hospital, but as I say, the FB group really helped me to feel that I wasn't on my own! 

Hope that's helpful. Take care and get in touch anytime if you think I can answer any questions. Jo x

Hi.  Meerkat . Yes I'm getting colostomy, the nurse said we would talk about the options. Yes I still haven't looked into the fb page yet . But il look now, I haven't started any treatment yet , & not really getting any symptoms so it kinda hard to come to terms with things yet , I have to stop for a min & say to myself "I have cancer" don't seem real. What stage did they give ur cancer at the op stage if u don't mind me asking ? . Xx katina

Hi Katrina,

My staging at the op was T3 N1 The tumour had grown into the muscle wall of the bowel but hadn't Perforated through. And there were Cancer cells present in one of the three nodes that were removed and tested during surgery. I'm not sure what this means in terms of Stage 1, 2 , 3 etc. 

If I'm honest, I still, after all this time (2 years since initial diagnosis) find it difficult to comprehend that I have cancer. Not sure whether this is normal either! 

Take care and hope the meeting with the stoma nurse is informative - ask loads of questions! 

Jo xx