Experiences with Surgery
Reasons for cancer surgery include cancer prevention when there is a high risk of cancer, to determine a cancer diagnosis, to determine the stage of cancer, as primary cancer treatment, to remove or repair a part of the body that has cancer, to check lymph nodes for cancer, to perform debulking to remove as much of the cancer as possible, or to relieve cancer symptoms and improve quality of life. There are many types of cancer surgery; chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or hormone therapy is often done after surgery. No matter what the specific goals of cancer surgery, cancer patients are ultimately losing part or parts of their body. This may feel unnatural, but you must learn to cope with the surgery experience.
Many people with cancer have difficulty hearing the words “You have cancer.”, and find it even more difficult to say the words, “Let’s do it”. It is hard to make treatment decisions; you may feel like you are losing control. A lot of WhatNexter’s ask “What are the emotions that come from having surgery?” or “How will I resume normal activity after surgery?”. Many people say that it is difficult to adjust to a new lifestyle after cancer surgery, and that you must accept yourself despite your loss. Just as it is okay to grieve after a cancer diagnosis, it is okay to mourn your loss whether it is prostate cancer surgery, breast cancer surgery, lung cancer surgery, colorectal cancer surgery, or other types of cancer surgery. However, then you must accept the new life you are given because of that loss. There are some outstanding stories shared by WhatNexter’s, read these stories, ask questions, and share your personal journey below.
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Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
The most horrendous 4 weeks of my life. 16 hours of surgery to remove his Pharynx, Larynx, Thyroid, Parathyriods, Oesophagus, 1 rib...
1 CommentWent as Expected: Strongly Disagree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
I've had 4 TACE procedures on my liver and just had surgery to cut off the blood supply to my right lobe of the liver in preparation...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
I had a radical resection of my left shoulder. 1 muscle (teres minor) was completely removed and parts of 3 other muscles. Lots les...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Surgery was to place a rod in femur because I broke it just sitting on the couch
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
On May 1st , I underwent surgery to have a 7 cm mass removed from deep in my abdomen. The procedure was supposed to take five hours...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Disagree Minimal Recovery: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
The surgery went as expected..if you can really know what to expect..I knew I would have a fistula and have to wear an obturator . I...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Was a very long recovery after esophageal rebuild. Lots of other procedures were needed to allow me to be able to swallow again.
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
My surgery went as expected. I have some side effects that affect my daily living.
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Neutral/NA Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Neutral/NA -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
10 months after surgery I had to have another one just to go in and see what was happening as I was still bleeding and having leakin...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
I had a Whipple procedure. Very difficult to recover from quickly
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
surgery schedule for 4/30/19 praying for positive results
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Not Specified Minimal Recovery: Not Specified Minimal Side Effects: Not Specified Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Not Specified -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
This was just surgery to remove tumor's
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Neutral/NA