Stomach like a beer belly after colon cancer surgery

I had emergency surgery for a full bowel obstruction and colostomy last a year ago last month with a follow up abdominal surgery to remove a baseball size tumor and ileostomy. Now, after my resection, I look 3 months pregnant.

@chateau, I noticed that you wished to post a URL to an article with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Please allow me to post it for you.

- Lymphedema https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lymphedema/symptoms-causes/syc-20374682

Chateau, I can imagine that the swollen belly is worrisome. But as you said, it is very early days only 5 days post surgery. There's still a lot of gas in your abdomen from the surgery I should think.

Have you inquired about lymphatic massage already?

Have you tried lymph drainage massage, acupuncture or herbs for lymph drainage? I am pretty sure it is lymphedema.

Hi
I am a new member to connect and look forward to sharing with others as well as learning from other members diagnosed with colon cancer. At the age of 63 my life changed forever. Two days before Christmas of 2014. I had rapid onset stomach pains and after a number of scans and scopes a colonoscopy found the cancer in the cecum on jan 8 2015.my doctors thought it was perhaps stage 2 at the most
Surgery followed and a tumor over 3 cm, a foot and a half of my colon along with 45 lymph nodes were removed of which 16 had metastized to my liver lungs and peritoneum. The pathology showed stage IV. It was like a bad dream as I had 4 prior colonoscopies due to a family history only to found out the cancer had most likely been missed. Thank God I was in good health otherwise. After healing from the surgery I started chemotherapy of 5-fu and avastin and completed my treatment plan in June of 2015. Then a pet scan was ordered and was told the cancer was gone and I was NED. It was the best news I could have hoped for. So since July of 2015 to present I take xeloda and avastin , see my oncologist every 3 weeks and have Ct scans every 3 month. Every scan including the pet scan done in december of 2016 have been NED.
It is like a miracle and I thank God every day for helping me.
I just made the 2 year point and all things considered my life is good. I have hand and foot syndrome from the xeloda but it has become manageable. I eat primarily a plant based diet, exercise, take supplements, do acupuncture and yoga and try my best to stay positive . I have also worked hard as after the surgery my weight dropped to a very scary 106 lbs and today weigh in at 118-119 lbs which gives me reserves and strength to fight the cancer. It also helps tremendously that I have a wonderful support system of family and friends and always have something to look forward to to keep me going. It has not been an easy time for sure but the bottom line is that I am still here and enjoying every day. And I believe that they are so so close to finding a cure for this dreaded disease and we need to stay strong and positive and help each other and never give up the fight

Aloha

No. I asked the doctors, surgeon. Primary doctor, cancer doctor. The plastic surgeon that ttied to fix it. There eyes gloss over. It is years after the surgery, and the beer belly presses on the bladder. They do not have an answer.

It has been six years since the surgery. The belly is still swollen. It swells more when I drink water, coffee, whatever. It swells after eating and after exercise. I do not fit into my clothes I wore when I had the flat stomach. I did not have any symptoms of cancer before surgery.

No.