Hello everyone,

I am somewhat of a novice at posting but have been reading the board for months (very helpful at such a difficult time). My mother has rectal cancer (T4, N0) and received six weeks of radiation and 5FU. Three weeks after treatment the CT Scan reported an 80% shrinkage of the tumor. A PET scan is scheduled next week for further evaluation. My questions are directed to the Vets in order to grasp a better understanding as to what's to come. Surgery is to be scheduled for mid-March.
How long do you typically stay in the hospital? What are the odds that she will have a bag, even if temporary? How frail will she be when she first comes home and selfishly I ask, how much time should I expect to provide 24 hrs care (I need to inform work). How long will it take to get back on her feet. She will need additional chemo after surgery. Is it as bad as the treatment that she's already been through? Are there any particular questions I should ask the surgeon from your experience. Her appointment is next week. I will of course ask the professionals the same questions, but your guidance and experience would be sooooo helpful as we enter into the next phase.

Thank you and kindest regards to all!!!!

With no complications and if she is fairly strong then a week to 10 day hospital stay would be typical.

She will be weak but should try and walk about for a few minutes several times a day. She will very well not require 27/7 care at all or for more than a week after hospital. If she can get in and out of bed on her own she should be OK.

Given what I have seen on this board, chances seem to be good that she will at least have a temp ostomy.
Having an ostomy is a new way to go potty but an adult can learn a lot faster the ins and outs of doing that than a 2 year old. There may well be accidents at first but practise makes perfect.

Hi I am so sorry to hear about your mother.
My husband was in the hospital for 5 days for his rectal surgury. He has a temporary illiostomy so that the area can heal properly. Like your mother he went through 5 1/2 weeks of radiation and a continuous infusion of 5 FU previous to his surgury. We have many steps to climb when entering our home so his Drs. made sure he could handle stairs before he was discharged,and though he has been unable to return to work, he is able to get along fine on his own while I am at work.
He is halfway through his chemo regimen now and I feel that this has been the hardest part for him to endure. (Major fatigue, aches and pains, and intolerence to cold temps)
My husband is 52 and prior to treatment was very energetic and strong. His biggest health concern was being overweight. I don't know how your mothers age or overall health compares to my husband's.
I don't know if this post will provide you with answers. Every person is unique and may not have the same results in healing. Your mother is lucky to have your love and support. :angel:

Hi there

Have been absent from the boards for a while but keep peeking in.

My mum was about 75 when she had her surgery but this was prior to any other treatment as she had partial blockage already. She had a low anterior resection. she did not need a bag. She was in a high dependancy unit for about 3 days as she had other medical conditions associated with a woman of her age but they had her out of bed and sitting up and helping her wash withing 48 hours. There were a lot of tubes trailing about but she managed ok. there was a catheter, i.v. drips, 2 drains, and things to monitor oxygen and pulse and stuff. But by day 7 ( i think ..... time dims the memory) she was tube free. She would have been home by then but unfortunately she tested positive for mrsa so she had to stay in a while longer.

When she got home she was really able to be about ok but I did sleep over for a week just for our own peace of mind really. She felt ok with that especially when she was getting herself up in the morning and taking a shower. She didnt need my help so much as just knowing i was there if she did need me.

I did do her chores for her..... along with shopping. But she cooked for herself and gradually did more and more. She avoided driving and any lifting for at least 6 weeks.

Mum did try chemo for a few cycles. She was on Xeloda pills. Her only side effects were dry skin and blood blisters on hands and feet but she coped quite well.

Hope this helps.
ktee

Hello, I am new to the boards, and I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I know what you're dealing with, I have experience from seeing my mother battle colon cancer, her fight began at 46, and she passed away at 51, she had numerous surgeries, more than 80 hours on the operating table, and she recovered fast and fully from everyone, except the last.

I think surgery recovery depends on a lot, and I will elaborate, the first surgery my mom had, it was at our local hosptial in 91 with a general surgeon, not a specialist in the field of colon rectal surgery and her recovery was a lot longer, her subsequent surgeries where at Washington Hospital Center with a more indepth surgeon, who told us that if she had her first surgery there, they could have gotten it all, I don't know how true that is, because she had 5 reoccurances total. The surgery at WHC was a quicker recovery time, as far as hospital stays, etc., she was out in about 5 days, and that is when she had a colostomy put on, she got back on her feet fairly quickly as well. She didn't have any other medical problems besides this to hold her recovery back though, she wasn't diabetic, or anything like that.

Things I think one should consider for recovery periods, because I truly feel it is dependent upon the patient and different for everyone is the following:

Age
General health overall, besides the aliment requiring surgery
Type of surgery
Attitude of the patient (I feel this is a big one, because your overall mind state does affect your physical state)
Diet, etc.

I really don't feel I can give you a definitive answer, but I hope some of this helps. If I were you, I would just keep work informed as you gather more information, if you've been at your job for awhile, you can take FMLA, I believe as long as you've been with them for 12 months or more, prior to to this type of leave request, and worked 1250 in the past year to be eligible, by law they have to allow you with 12 weeks of unpaid leave. They should be understanding of your situation regardless, and if they're not, then I wouldn't want to work there, I had issues with my employer when my mom passed in 98 and during her recovery period prior to passing, I didn't know about the FMLA at 21 though, or else I would have pulled it on them. I quit there shortly after, and it was a hospital no less.

As far as chemo, etc., only the doc can tell you that, and people tolerate it differently, my mom didn't lose her hair, but it made her nauseaous and upset her stomach. She said everything tasted like metal, so it's good to use plastic spoons, and buy items that come in plastic containers that always helped my mom, in terms of the colostomy bag, my mom had one, and it is something that will deficate all the time, to slow it down, we used peanut butter, smooth of course, and marshmellows, I would have her eat one or a teaspoon of it right before we were going to change or empty her bag, it always slowed it down.

I don't know if anything helped, but I hope it did, good luck with your mom and yourself in getting through this, keep us posted.

Best Wishes!

Christy

Thank you all for responding!!!! I understand that everyone's reaction to surgery and treatment is different. Sharing your own experiences gives me insight as to the road ahead. Thanks again. I'll keep you posted!