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
laparo partial nephrectomy of the left kidney. cancer confirmed.
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Recovery was pretty standard, no complications. Total Radical Hysterectomy plus lymp nodes
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Surgery has finally been rescheduled for May 22, 2014. I'm more scared this time than I have for previous surgeries. I'm not sure wh...
2 CommentsWent as Expected: Strongly Disagree Minimal Recovery: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Biopsy on neck
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 partial mastectomy & node removal. My margins weren't clear so they had to operate again. Still numb & shooting pains a year...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Chronic B-cell CLL plus hemolytic anemia and just had acute gall bladder episode with gall bladder removed. Feeling better due to s...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Resection of descending colon surgery went well. Minimal lymph nodes were affected, thus 5FU chemotherapy treatments were part of th...
4 CommentsWent as Expected: Neutral/NA Minimal Recovery: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Neutral/NA Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Neutral/NA -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Initial treatment was radiation plaque applied to eye, then plaque was removed 1 wk later; after 18 months of monitoring, the tumor ...
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Neutral/NA Minimal Recovery: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Neutral/NA Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Neutral/NA -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
It is only one day after surgery. Not a painful surgery. Will rate Recovery, side effects and Impact to Daily Life when I feel can...
1 CommentWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Neutral/NA Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Neutral/NA -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Stomach was removed. TPN feeding was started. Regained weight over the next couple of months.
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Agree Minimal Recovery: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
I thought I was having surgery to clear my sinuses. They found a tumor in my sinus and it was lymphoma.
0 CommentsWent as Expected: Disagree Minimal Recovery: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Agree -
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Went in on April 18th for radical hysterectomy with lymph node removal plus removal of my omentum. Unfortunately I had to do it the ...
1 CommentWent as Expected: Strongly Agree Minimal Recovery: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree