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Colostomy vs. Resection
GP777 posted:
Hello - My second post related to my father's case. He has a 3.5cm tumor that is about 6-7 cm from the anus. The surgeon is nor sure if this will be a resection or colostomy case because it is so close to the rectal muscle. Can others please tell me of any similiar cases? What were the determining factors for going resection vs. colostomy, etc.? Thank you in advance!
5 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Colostomy vs. ResectionHello - My second post related to my father's case. He has a 3.5cm tumor that is about 6-7 cm from the anus. The surgeon is nor sure if this will be a resection or colostomy case because it is so close to the rectal muscle. Can others please tell me of any similiar cases? What were the determining factors for going resection vs. colostomy, etc.? Thank you in advance!
Hoosier1960 responded:
GP777
I'm 49 yr old male who was diagnosed in October 08, surgery February 09. My tumor was near the anus also and attached to my prostate. I did not want a colostomy., but after the surgeon got in there, I did not have a choice, so I have a colostomy. Once I accepted it, it's not as bad as I thought it was going be. I'm back doing what I was doing prior to being diagnosed. The only thing I have to change is the amount of lifting I can do and this is hard being an outdoor person.
I do travel alot being an regional rep. This sometimes requires air travel and I have not experienced issues through security.
I hope this helps. Take Care
Rick
I'm 49 yr old male who was diagnosed in October 08, surgery February 09. My tumor was near the anus also and attached to my prostate. I did not want a colostomy., but after the surgeon got in there, I did not have a choice, so I have a colostomy. Once I accepted it, it's not as bad as I thought it was going be. I'm back doing what I was doing prior to being diagnosed. The only thing I have to change is the amount of lifting I can do and this is hard being an outdoor person.
I do travel alot being an regional rep. This sometimes requires air travel and I have not experienced issues through security.
I hope this helps. Take Care
Rick
Report This| Share this:Colostomy vs. ResectionGP777 <br><br>I'm 49 yr old male who was diagnosed in October 08, surgery February 09. My tumor was near the anus also and attached to my prostate. I did not want a colostomy., but after the surgeon got in there, I did not have a choice, so I have a colostomy. Once I accepted it, it's not as bad as I thought it was going be. I'm back doing what I was doing prior to being diagnosed. The only thing I have to change is the amount of lifting I can do and this is hard being an outdoor person. <br><br>I do travel alot being an regional rep. This sometimes requires air travel and I have not experienced issues through security. <br><br>I hope this helps.
Take Care <br><br>Rick
VJBill responded:
My husband had a very similar case. He went into surgery (1) to remove the cancer mass as first priority and (2) to have a resection if possible - his goal was not to have a colostomy bag for the remainder of his life.
Your father's tumor is 5 cm further away from the anus than my husbands. My husband had approxiamately 1-1/2 cm of rectum left once the cancer mass was removed. His surgeon was successful in fashioning a "J pouch" out of the colon that is meant to act in the same fashion as the rectum did before removal.
The criteria for his J pouch was having enough remaining of the rectal muscle. The J pouch could not be hooked directly to the anus. If there wasn't enough left, then we had no option but to have the colostomy bag.
Hope this helps. As another note, the first surgeon we talked to was only willing to remove the mass and install a colostomy bag - he wasn't open to any other options. My husband sought a 2nd opinion. He felt that if a colostomy bag was to be his future, so be it, but he wasn't going to only accept one surgeon's opinion. If the second surgeon had agreed, OK. But the second surgeon was at a medical university and had performed over 100 J pouches. This doesn't work for everyone - and even when my husband went under for removal of his cancer mass - we didn't know for sure whether he would come out with a bag or J pouch. For my husband, having the potential and an option meant HOPE!
Your father's tumor is 5 cm further away from the anus than my husbands. My husband had approxiamately 1-1/2 cm of rectum left once the cancer mass was removed. His surgeon was successful in fashioning a "J pouch" out of the colon that is meant to act in the same fashion as the rectum did before removal.
The criteria for his J pouch was having enough remaining of the rectal muscle. The J pouch could not be hooked directly to the anus. If there wasn't enough left, then we had no option but to have the colostomy bag.
Hope this helps. As another note, the first surgeon we talked to was only willing to remove the mass and install a colostomy bag - he wasn't open to any other options. My husband sought a 2nd opinion. He felt that if a colostomy bag was to be his future, so be it, but he wasn't going to only accept one surgeon's opinion. If the second surgeon had agreed, OK. But the second surgeon was at a medical university and had performed over 100 J pouches. This doesn't work for everyone - and even when my husband went under for removal of his cancer mass - we didn't know for sure whether he would come out with a bag or J pouch. For my husband, having the potential and an option meant HOPE!
Report This| Share this:Colostomy vs. ResectionMy husband had a very similar case. He went into surgery (1) to remove the cancer mass as first priority and (2) to have a resection if possible - his goal was not to have a colostomy bag for the remainder of his life. <br><br>Your father's tumor is 5 cm further away from the anus than my husbands. My husband had approxiamately 1-1/2 cm of rectum left once the cancer mass was removed. His surgeon was successful in fashioning a "J pouch" out of the colon that is meant to act in the same fashion as the rectum did before removal. <br><br>The criteria for his J pouch was having enough remaining of the rectal muscle. The J pouch could not be hooked directly to the anus. If there wasn't enough left, then we had no option but to have the colostomy bag. <br><br>Hope this helps. As another note, the first surgeon we talked to was only willing to remove the mass and install a colostomy bag - he wasn't open to any other options. My husband sought a 2nd opinion. He felt that if a colostomy bag was to be his future, so be it, but he wasn't going to only accept one surgeon's opinion. If the second surgeon had agreed, OK. But the second surgeon was at a medical university and had performed over 100 J pouches. This doesn't work for everyone - and even when my husband went under for removal of his cancer mass - we didn't know for sure whether he would come out with a bag or J pouch. For my husband, having the potential and an option meant HOPE!
GP777 responded:
Thank you both for sharing with me your case. We had a 2nd opinion today with a colon/rectal specialist. The doctor said that there was an "excellent" chance a resection can be done. That made my father feel much better. Anyhow, it has been about 3 weeks since the family has learned of my father's case. His initial reaction to reject the possibility of a colostomy has waned and we are thankful for that. So far, we feel very luck as the cancer has not spread. Looks like surgery will be sometime in mid-february. Happy new year, everyone. Hope 2010 brings good health and spirits!
Report This| Share this:Colostomy vs. ResectionThank you both for sharing with me your case. We had a 2nd opinion today with a colon/rectal specialist. The doctor said that there was an "excellent" chance a resection can be done. That made my father feel much better. Anyhow, it has been about 3 weeks since the family has learned of my father's case. His initial reaction to reject the possibility of a colostomy has waned and we are thankful for that. So far, we feel very luck as the cancer has not spread. Looks like surgery will be sometime in mid-february. Happy new year, everyone. Hope 2010 brings good health and spirits!
luckynana responded:
VJBill,,,could you tell me a little bit more about the J-Pouch,,I don't think I have heard of this,,unless it has more then one name. I have heard of a Koch pouch that goes on the inside,,and you still drain it I believe,,but I am not even certain about that,,we are so in the dark here. I know we will learn alot at the specialist office next week,,but that seems like a long ways away,,thanks for your help. 
Report This| Share this:Colostomy vs. ResectionVJBill,,,could you tell me a little bit more about the J-Pouch,,I don't think I have heard of this,,unless it has more then one name. I have heard of a Koch pouch that goes on the inside,,and you still drain it I believe,,but I am not even certain about that,,we are so in the dark here. I know we will learn alot at the specialist office next week,,but that seems like a long ways away,,thanks for your help. <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/wink.gif" align="top" border="0">
luci608 responded:
my husband just had surgery 2 days ago for the same thing. His tumor was 4 cm from the anus. The surgeon was able to reconnect after removing the tumor, rectal tissue and a few lymph nodes. The prostate was not involved. The surgery was done laproscopic (we signed up for a clinical trial our surgeon was involved with) and took 6 hours. He is already back on solid foods (had a little bit of lunch and dinner yesterday) and got out of bed twice to sit up in a chair. He did go through 5 weeks of concurrent radiation and chemo which shrunk his tumor down 40% pre-surgery. If you have a talented surgeon, it CAN be done. Keep up the positive thoughts and I believe if you go into things with a good thoughts and prayers, it helps 
Report This| Share this:Colostomy vs. Resectionmy husband just had surgery 2 days ago for the same thing. His tumor was 4 cm from the anus. The surgeon was able to reconnect after removing the tumor, rectal tissue and a few lymph nodes. The prostate was not involved. The surgery was done laproscopic (we signed up for a clinical trial our surgeon was involved with) and took 6 hours. He is already back on solid foods (had a little bit of lunch and dinner yesterday) and got out of bed twice to sit up in a chair. He did go through 5 weeks of concurrent radiation and chemo which shrunk his tumor down 40% pre-surgery. If you have a talented surgeon, it CAN be done. Keep up the positive thoughts and I believe if you go into things with a good thoughts and prayers, it helps <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0">
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