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5 Replies Last post: 14-Jun-2009 00:08 by Goldenbird  
Scared32 2 posts since
15-May-2009

Hi there,

I am new here and just after some advice. My mother went in for bowel surgery yesterday and when we went to visit her she was experiencing a lot of crampy/contraction like pains. Does anyone know if this is normal, it was horrendous to see her in so much pain. She was having these pains before the surgery as well.

Any advice apreciated.

x

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goldielocks 79 posts since
27-Apr-2009
1. 28-May-2009 10:39 in response to: Scared32
Re: Mother just has surgery for bowel cancer

Hi - I hope your mother has now recovered from her surgery. Just thought I would reassure you, that I had surgery for bowel cancer 2 months ago. There were a few complications but I have now fully recovered from the operation. I didn't get crampy pains, but everyone is different. Has she had the results of the pathology report yet? What further treatment does she need, if any? It may help for us to chat as I'm going through the same thing, but am slightly more ahead of your mum. x
Scared32 2 posts since
15-May-2009
2. 03-Jun-2009 20:14 in response to: goldielocks
Re: Mother just has surgery for bowel cancer

Hi there,

Thank you so much for the reply. She is doing well after the op, despite all the set backs she had in hospital, she is walking around a bit and eating very small amounts. They had told her the chemo would start in Sept, but now it has been brought forward and she is having a permanent line put in tomorrow. I'm not sure what this means and am really worried about it now.

I hope you are continuing to do well.

x

Goldenbird 1,438 posts since
16-Sep-2008
3. 03-Jun-2009 22:57 in response to: Scared32
Re: Mother just has surgery for bowel cancer

Hi

I think the permanent line means a sort of device (sometimes called a Hickson line) that many bowel cancer patients have in their chest area. It is something that is put in (and from what I've seen in Chemo room at my hospital) not particularly scary but is just something to deliver the chemotherapy into a vein directly instead of having to have a needle (canula) stuck into your vein in your arm or hand regularly to get the chemo in. It is quite convenient for the nurses and from what I have gathered has to be flushed out occasionally. I can tell you that chemo for bowel cancer patients is not nearly so bad as for, say, breast cancer patients as there would appear to be little ot no hair loss and fewer side effects. I have talked to several patients in this situation and they seem to think it is a breeze!!

So try not to worry too much as I suspect Mum will go on for a long time yet and will not suffer too much from the chemotherapy, with any luck.

Judith

angellisa 1 posts since
12-Jun-2009
4. 12-Jun-2009 14:28 in response to: Goldenbird
Re: Mother just has surgery for bowel cancer

Hi ive never been on this site befor but need some help my mam has just been diagnosed with bowel cancer and she is going to have a operation but first they are checking her lympth nodes as they are swollen does this mean cancer has spread i cant talk about it to my mam as she is bad with nerves has been all her life and if me or my sis talk about it she screams and says she is going to die please help thanx x
Goldenbird 1,438 posts since
16-Sep-2008
5. 14-Jun-2009 00:08 in response to: angellisa
Re: Mother just has surgery for bowel cancer

Hi

I don't really know the answer to your question but all you can do is support your Mam to your best ability and perhaps go to the oncologist with her. They obviously don't know either but I would doubt whether enlarged lymph nodes particularly would indicate spread of cancer - may just be a slight infection or something but at least they are checking it out!!! Keep on posting and we'll try and help.

Judith

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