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
I had a full hysterectomy (including ovaries & tubes) via the da Vinci robot. Very fast recovery!
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
The initial neurosurgeon declared the tumor was inoperable. The neurosurgeon at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania decl...
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 laminectomy done on 4/27/12. The tumor affected my L3, L4 and partial L5. The signs which led me to surgery where sharp, ex...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
I had surgery on June 26th to remove a well differentiated adenocarcinoma tumor imbedded in my rectis abdominal muscle. ( That is th...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Neutral/NA Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Neutral/NA -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Movement and speech centers okay after surgery. Some healing time prior to initiating Stupp's protocol. (Radiation and chemo)
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
SURGERY AT MD ANDERSON 3/4/14- WALKED A QUARTER MILE THE DAY AFTER SURGERY AND MORE EACH DAY. WAS DISCHARGED AFTER FIVE DAYS. WALKE...
2 CommentsWent as Expected: Neutral/NA Minimal Recovery: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Endometrial cancer, fibroids & ovarian non cancerous cysts, I needed no treatments only a total abdominal hysterectomy. My life sinc...
1 CommentWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Couldnt walk after surgery. Intense physical therapy for one year to walk again.
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Disagree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Very extensive surgery. Hard to recover
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
I should mention that soon after the October diagnosis my friend went unexpectedly into hospital to have surgery to remove a tumor o...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Developed blood clot in right leg, currently on blood thinner, not helping
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Neutral/NA Minimal Recovery: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree