I'm new here ...

[aysedeniz]

my surgeon didn't put a bag to me? I 'm wondering why others have this bag...

[Nicole_GCCA Partner]

Hello aysedeniz ,Thanks for posting. I'm a little unsure of what your question is - are you asking why some people who have surgery for colorectal cancer end have an ostomy bag, and why you didn't?

Your doctor will be able to give you a more precise answer, but my understanding is that it all depends on the location of the tumor(s), and how much cancer needs to be removed. Sometimes people end up with a temporary ostomy, and other times surgeons are able to reconstruct and even create an internal pouch to redirect the feces and allow the patient to continue use of their rectum/anus.

I hope this answers your question - please let me know if you were asking something else that I did not understand.

~Nicole, GCCA Staff Member & Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.

Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.

[aysedeniz in reply to Nicole_GCCA]

Generally the surgeons take decisions about our body but do not like people questioning their decisions...I think he did a good job..I feel great ... I don't want to disturb him with my questions but I feel so lonely...I didn't know that people with cancer feeled like that...I read a lot and sometimes I find conflicts in all these books and abstracts...For exemple : some dieteticien suggest curd but some refuse all diary products...What do you think about dairy food and curds?

[Nicole_GCCA Partner in reply to aysedeniz]

Hello aysedeniz ,

I'm sorry that you are feeling alone - I hope that you can connect with others in our group here who have also gone through a colorectal cancer diagnosis and surgery, and can be a support to you. We also have members who are long-term survivors, as well as caregivers. Our goal is to provide support to those based on our own experiences.

When it comes to doctors - they are human just like the rest of us. We are often very careful "not to be a bother", or "ask too many questions" - and that is a really common thing that happens all over the world. But this is your health, and we encourage everyone to be their own health advocate, and when possible, bring in family members or friends to support you in meeting with your medical team (asking questions, taking notes, doing research.). I know this is not possible for many people right now with COVID, so people are getting creative... sometimes a caregiver will be on facetime during a doctors visit (when there are restrictions on just the patient and doctor being in the room due to COVID).

It is important to read up on the disease as well as any surgeries or procedures you are having, it is also very important to be given the opportunity to ask questions and get an understanding from your doctor and medical team about what the treatment plan is.

I understand what you mean when it comes to finding conflicting information -- it happens all the time! If it is the results of a clinical trial that I am reading, I not only take into account the size of the trial, and what the key takeaways are but also look for articles that were written about the results of the trial. these can often be found by googling and can be in a language that is a bit friendlier to those of us who did not go to medical school

Are you experiencing symptoms that have you searching for dietary changes? I would recommend making a list of questions and contacting your doctor.

We're here for you and will do our best to offer support - but keep in mind this group does not offer medical advice - we're just able to share from our experiences and link to resources that may be of use.

Your health is the most important thing - so I would rather hear that a patient has many questions and that the doctor needs to schedule a second appointment to be able to answer them all, rather than a patient not asking because they don't want to take up the doctor's time. They will let you know if they need to end the appointment - and if your questions aren't answered at that time, you can ask for another appointment.

Some hospitals/treatment centers have patient navigators that are a great support and have knowledge about programs, services, etc.

I hope this information is helpful and please, never feel like a bother - your doctor is there to help you - and you are a very important part of your care and decision-making team regarding your care and treatment!

~Nicole, GCCA Staff Member & Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.