I swore I would never wear a bag, but I did for four months after a temporary ileostomy following rectal surgery. It was not as bad as I had imagined. I also had six months of chemo that was also not that bad. The one thing I was dead set against was radiation which I was able to avoid by following the Prospect protocol. My top priority was preserving Quality of Life and I made that very clear to every oncologist I talked to. Cancer treatment is a very personal thing with a range of options. I encourage you to do lots of research, have thorough discussions with the medical professionals, and make informed decisions based on your shared priorities. Good luck.