My journey with rectal cancer: What's your experience?

Day 16. Skin reaction/ infection around incisions getting steadily worse despite taking antibiotics and antihistamine on doctor's advice. Good news is that normal service has resumed in the bowel.

Day 20. After mixed advice from local doctors my hospital consultant asked to see me yesterday and declared that the skin issue around the incisions was not an infection but a rare allergic reaction to the glue used on the stitches. Removing the glue gently with tweezers seems to have improved the situation already.
The post-op biopsy results are very positive on the whole - clear margins around the tumour, 22 of 23 lymph glands clear but one gland found to have traces of cancer cells.
Next step - oncology meeting on 5 December to decide if any chemo needed.
Onwards and upwards!

@martin77, oh tweezer removal of the glue sounds tedious (painful?). I'm so glad that the cause of the flare was discovered. While it's great to be unique, this is one instance that I bet you wished you weren't.

I've been meaning to say that I really appreciate your daily journalling of your experience rectal cancer. I wonder if you would permit me to update the title of this discussion to indicate this? Any suggestions?

Hi Colleen
I'd much rather not be unique! The tweezer method was not painful but not as good as my own method of gently rubbing the glue off whilst under a shower, as recommended by a nurse.
Yes, by all means change the title of my updates. Happy to keep them coming, but not so happy with continuing discomfort from skin rash!

Day 25. Incisions now healing well having had glue removed but masses of small itchy / painful spots then emerged around waist and on back, arms and legs resulting in several sleepless nights. OTC remedies such as calomine cream made no difference but Paracetamol helped to deaden the pain. Also tried some antibio / steroid cream on some patches which seems to have helped. Arranged to see a dermatologist next week but already getting better, perhaps due to incisions now healing up. Trying to increase walking distance each day - achieved 5,000 step target on Day 23 but only 4,551 yesterday! Big day coming up on 5 December to discuss possible chemo.
Whilst all this has been going on, the new plumbing system continues to work well, although at irregular intervals compared to the old days.

Are there any more updates? How are you feeling?

Day 25 reported yesterday. I think you need to click on 'more'.

Thank you for sharing. I'm really new at commenting but now I figured it out. You are keeping a great log of your journey. I do have a question though, did they do any liquid biopsy (CTDNA) testing after surgery? Or have they discussed this as an option for you? I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in October of 2014.

Liquid biopsy testing has not been mentioned. Is this something you would recommend I discuss with my hospital team?

I think this is an EXCELLENT article to discuss with your doctor in determining your course of treatment, The more information you have about your situation will help guide in a more personalized treatment.

Keeping in mind that we are ALL different, so having a discussion with your doctor is really important. As Cancer patients, the more knowledge we have about our disease can help in a more personalized approach to our care. That's why it is very important to have as much information at the beginning stages before moving forward in our treatment.

Here is an EXCELLENT resource explaining the importance of knowing our Biomarkers.

There are many excellent resources now for Colorectal Cancer Patients. The more we know the stronger we are.