Terry I haven't been that far, but I pray that God🌹 will take care of you and everything will go well. Please rest in Him🌹. In Jesus Christ🌹Name. Amen🌹

I am in a similar situation. I have been on chemo since November 2022 and had 6 weeks of radiation in between. I have completed my chemo and radiation so I had a colonoscopy last week and am waiting for the results. I don't know if I have a colostomy bag in my future but that would be a difficult situation to come to terms with. In the meantime, I wait for the surgeon to call to let me know. Keep strong, we can do this.

Dear rioa21,
First, let me tell you that I too was terrified. When the gastrointerologist first showed my 3-D ct scan my first reaction was he was showing me the wrong ct scan? However, he assured me I was viewing the right scan. I had a MASSIVE GROWTH that started and looked like ROOTS extending from my sigmiod colon and a what I called a huge POLYP in my rectm and extended all the way down to my anus. The POLYP ITSELF WAS NOT CANCEROUS, BUT THE ROOTS STARTING AT THE SIGMIOD WERE!!! So after consulting with the surgeon he told me that if I didn't remove everything the cancer would spread to the POLYP AND MAKE THINGS WORSE? SO HE REMOVED EVERYTHING!! The hardest part for me to understand was, OK, if you remove all that stuff, how am I going to discharge my fecal matter???? Thats when he explaind that I am going to have to have a STOMA STICKING OUT OF MY STOMACH! MY FIRST RESPONSE WAS, OK, BUT FOR HOW LONG, THATS WHEN HE DROPPED THE BOMBSHELL? He said I'm very SORRY to tell you this, but IT will be permanent. Thats when I thought to myself, AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THIS? Then he suggested that I look at videos of people who also have a colostomy? After looking into it and having EXTRAORDINARY SUPPORT from nurses who are especially trained in wound care, I guess recovery? Because they KNOW how big a change of life it is for you? AS FAR AS THE SURGERY IT REALLY WAS'NT ALL THAT BAD? THERE WAS A LOT OF PAIN IN THE BEGINING, BUT THEY, THE SURGEON PRESCRIBES STRONG PAIN KILLING MEDICATION. AS FAR AS RECOVERY, MY BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS I KEPT FORGETTING I COULD'NT SIT STRAIGHT DOWN. I ALWAYS HAD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE I HAVE TO SIT ON MY SIDE. WHETHER IT BE MY RIGHT SIDE OR MY LEFT?
Now getting used to the bag? I had my surgery 1/11/21 and to be perfectly honest and candid with you, I still have trouble dealing with the bag. There are certain foods that I can NO LONGER EAT? ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS I TIRE MUCH MUCH SOONER THAN BEFORE! I WAS A FAIRLY ACTIVE PERSON BEFORE ALL OF THIS BUT NOW IT JUST SEEMS LIKE I CAN'T DO WHAT I USED TO DO. IT CAN BE VERY DEPRESSING AND DISCOURAGING. BUT ILOOK AT IT THIS WAY!!!! AT LEAST I'M STILL ALIVE?????
It is OK to be frightened and scared, I was too? But you learn to TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME? AND DON'T DO WHAT I DID! TRY TO HURRY THINGS, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK? ALL YOU DO IS GO THROUGH MORE UNNECESSARY PAIN. Because then you get mad and it takes longer to heal. And above all, DO WHAT THE DOCTORS AND NURSES TELL YOU, THEY ARE HIGHLY SKILLED AND TRAINED PROFESSIONALS. THEY HAVE ALL TAKEN THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH!!!!!!!!!! "FIRST DO NO HARM".
With that said, just remember ONE thing, " GOD" will always watch over you and help and guide you through the most challanging times in your life.
GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING AND ALWAYS LOOK AT THE CUP AS HALF "FULL" INSTEAD OF HALF EMTY, "GOD BLESS"
P.S. I WILL PRAY FOR YOU DAILY!! YOU CAN AND WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!!!!!