Colon Cancer After Surgery: What to expect
Immediately following surgery
After colon cancer surgery is complete, you will be transferred to the recovery room and monitored for a certain amount of time before returning to your regular room. Food and drink are off limits until the colon has had a chance to heal. A tube may be placed into the stomach via the nose to remove air and digestive juices from the stomach, which will help to prevent bloating and nausea. Nourishment may also be provided intravenously until the digestive system is able to once again handle solid food.
Depending on your individual progress, you will be allowed to gradually resume drinking and eating soft foods, and should then follow a strict diet outlined by your doctor.
Also be sure to alert your doctor or surgeon if you are experiencing any new symptoms following surgery, such as severe pain, fever, weakness, redness or swelling.
Risks and complications
The risks and complications with colon cancer after surgery are generally rare, but they do still exist. Discuss your concerns with the anesthesiologist regarding questions about possible side effects from the anesthesia which can include conditions such as a stroke or kidney failure.
Your doctor should explain how to ward off the development of blood clots, which usually occur in the legs and appear a few days following surgery. The affected leg will hurt, swell, and may be cold to the touch due to the lack of blood flow. Blood clots can become dislodged and move to the lungs causing pain, shortness of breath, and even be fatal. Any symptoms such as a sudden difficulty breathing should be immediately reported to your doctor.
Colostomies
A colostomy is when the surgeon must create an opening, or stoma, on the outside of the abdomen for waste material to pass through, bypassing parts of the rectum and anus. During most surgeries for colon cancer, the diseased portion of the colon is surgically removed, and the two remaining healthy ends are then reconnected using sutures in a procedure called anastomosis. However, if the surgeon feels that the anastomosis will not be successful or may simply need more time to heal, he or she may also perform a colostomy.
The end of the intestine is then attached to the outside of the newly created stoma, which will allow waste materials to pass through into a removable bag instead of traveling through the anus. Most colostomies are necessary on a temporary basis while the colon heals after surgery and can usually be reversed in a few months following the initial operation.
Altered bowel or bladder function
Right after surgery, some patients report that they experience difficulty emptying their bladder and or having a bowel movement. Depending on the extent of your surgery, both of these temporary losses of function are usually resolved within a week after the operation. However, your doctor should be notified if difficulty urinating or defecating continues to be a noticeable problem.
Follow-up treatments
In the weeks and months following your colon cancer surgery, you can expect to have several appointments with your general practitioner, the surgeon, a gastroenterologist, and an oncologist, or doctor who specializes in treating cancer. Tests will be conducted to determine how you are healing and to ensure that the cancer does not return.
In cases of recurrent colon cancer or cases where the disease has spread or is unable to be removed, addition surgical procedures may be necessary to alleviate pain and discomfort.
Support
Dealing with colon cancer after surgery shouldn’t be a solo venture. It’s important to surround yourself with the help, support, and comfort of your friends and family, as well as your health care professionals. Ask your doctor for more information about colon cancer support groups, or check the phone book, local libraries, the internet, and community centers for additional resources.
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