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
Extensive surgery. Recovery went well then started 6 months of chemo. Went for 3 month check up after chemo and found the cancer cam...
1 CommentWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Surgery to remove what was thought to be a cyst/possible BCC
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Neutral/NA Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Bowel problems, mostly diarrhea, started the day after surgery. I never had to take a stool softener after my surgery.
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
I had a stent placed in my bladder during surgery to remove my colon tumor, it was only supposed to stay in there for 3 days, but my...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Disagree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
My headaches were so severe and I was throwing up so much that when an MRI discovered the tumor and I was told I could have surgery ...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
October 2013 had surgery to remove tumor. Surgery went extremely well. Stayed in the hospital for 3 days, finished recovery at hom...
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 bowl obstruction and 2 weeks later I was in the hospital again with same problem. The 2nd time I had the operation and a few...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Disagree Minimal Recovery: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
June 25, 2014. Had initial surgery to remove mass - originally suspected to be a benign soft tissue mass. In-surgery cross-sectiona...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Disagree Minimal Recovery: Not Specified Minimal Side Effects: Not Specified Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Not Specified -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
At year 5, CT Scan found one small tumor near skin, just next to scar from year 4 surgery. Evidently surgeon dragged tumor cells out...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Small, single tumor in left lung found 4 years after kidney was removed. Had the tumor removed via surgery. A year later and still h...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Kidney removed. No side effects once healed
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Neutral/NA Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree