Question 1

how does surgery for stage 1 rectal cancer work?

Accepted Answer

Through abdomen/anus: This is where the cancer does not go past the muscle layer.  Surgery can cure this but there are risks.  Surgery can be through the abdomen with or without surgery on the anus.  The first way might need a temporary or permanent colostomy, an opening for expulsion of waste.  The other way requires a permanent colostomy.  Surgery may be done that just involves the anus, but that risks recurrence.

Question 2

how does surgery affect people who have stage 3 rectal cancer?

Accepted Answer

Hard to say: Some people are cured and some are not. You can't predict who will be in each catergory. My dad had stage 3. Best chance for survival at that time was 5% for 5 years. He lived 25 years after surgeryand died at age 95. Go figure. All is not lost with the diagnosis of cancer.

Question 3

is it possible to get hernia after surgery for rectal cancer?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Any abdominal operation may be complicated by the subsequent development of an incisional hernia; this is more common with midline incisions.  Other factors that may increase this risk include obesity, wound infections, postoperative chemotherapy, steroid use, and malnutrition.

Question 4

is it likely to get hernia after rectal cancer surgery?

Accepted Answer

Possible, not likely: Hernias come in many forms. If you had a surgery with an incision on your midline abdominal wall, regardless of the reason for this incision, you could develop an incisional hernia. After your rectal cancer surgery, your surgeon likely told you to avoid coughing, straining, and heavy lifting for six weeks. This advise is to lower your risk for hernia in the incision. Check with your surgeon.

Question 5

my husband had colon rectal cancer and had a colostomy now he is going to get it reversed i guess i need to know how hard the surgery will be on him he has gone through so much and now its all fixing to be over please help ?

Accepted Answer

It will be easier: Nobody knows how thing is going to happen in the future. However, the reversal surgery , i think, will be easier for him than the surgery he had before. He has been going through a lot and having the reversal surgery, psychologically,  will be one of the closure for him . Good luck for him and god bless you both.

Question 6

diagonised with rectal cancer, after ileostomy reversal, frequent bm's, abcess withleakage at the surgery site. alternatives tocolostomy ?bowel trnspl

Accepted Answer

Insert drain: Ileostomy after rectal cancer is used to protect the rectal resuturing to establish continuity in the bowel. II there is some kind of abscess and leakage it can occur where the ileostomy has been reversed or at the site of the rectal suture line which may not have been ready for closure.  Interventional radiology can place a suction drain to the site and left there until everything has healed.

Question 7

laprascopic assisted low anterior resection of rectal cancer surgery scheduled in 4 days. what are the best things that i should do now to prep for it?

Accepted Answer

Ask your surgeon: Virtually all surgeons have a pre-operative routine they like you to do including bowel prep.

Question 8

i had lar for rectal cancer 5mo ago.  now, i have a persistent groove line in my stool (same size as before surgery). normal cea. what's the cause?

Accepted Answer

More fiber in diet: You probably are seeing narrow stool when you say "groove" in your stool.  The size and girth of the stool is a function of fiber in your diet.  If it is because of a stricture at the anastomotic site (narrowing at the bowel hook-up) you would have more symptoms of difficulty with defecation or abdominal distension and pain.  Eat more fruits, vegetables and add psyllium seeds (like metamucil).

Question 9

stage 2/3 rectal cancer, 60-yr m patient, chemo+radiation, ok to have surgery to remove mass 2 weeks after treatment?

Accepted Answer

That depends: On your overall health and status post treatment.  Often, the surgeon will request you to be medically cleared which needs to be done by your internist or PCP, and involves a Physical exam, and possible blood work with an EKG and Chest Xray to see if you are medically stable to undergo the operation.  Best wishes.

Question 10

i had a uti after surgery for rectal cancer and was on furantoin for 2 months. i now have a nodule on my lung could this be due to furantoin for uti?

Accepted Answer

No: Please ask your treating doctor what is this Nodule from.
When a person has cancer and distant Nodule is seen ,we always think of spread of Cancer.
 But other possibility like Old Granuloma from Previous Infection….can happen too.

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Doctor answers about:

Rectal cancer without surgery

A member asked:

How does surgery for stage 1 rectal cancer work?

A member asked:

How does surgery affect people who have stage 3 rectal cancer?

A member asked:

Is it possible to get hernia after surgery for rectal cancer?

A member asked:

Is it likely to get hernia after rectal cancer surgery?

A member asked:

My husband had colon rectal cancer and had a colostomy now he is going to get it reversed i guess i need to know how hard the surgery will be on him he has gone through so much and now its all fixing to be over please help ?

A member asked:

Diagonised with rectal cancer, after ileostomy reversal, frequent bm's, abcess withleakage at the surgery site. alternatives tocolostomy ?bowel trnspl

A member asked:

Laprascopic assisted low anterior resection of rectal cancer surgery scheduled in 4 days. what are the best things that i should do now to prep for it?

A member asked:

I had lar for rectal cancer 5mo ago. now, i have a persistent groove line in my stool (same size as before surgery). normal cea. what's the cause?

A member asked:

Stage 2/3 rectal cancer, 60-yr m patient, chemo+radiation, ok to have surgery to remove mass 2 weeks after treatment?

A member asked:

I had a uti after surgery for rectal cancer and was on furantoin for 2 months. i now have a nodule on my lung could this be due to furantoin for uti?

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