Ostomy Reversal Timing After Colon Cancer Surgery

Hi. I was diagnosed with colon cancer in April this year. I was very malnourished and dehydrated and had a blockage in the colon causing me pain and difficulty eating. So they couldn't operate on the cancer right away. So I received a double loop ileostomy bag. That way I could regain my strength for the cancer surgery. Will there be a third surgery for the ileostomy reversal? How long after the cancer surgery? Thanks

You need to ask your surgeon what he plans to do because I think it can go either way.

When I had my cancer surgery, my surgeon was hoping to reconnect my bowel to my rectum, and he planned to give me a temporary loop ileostomy while it healed. He ultimately needed to do a permanent colostomy, but that's beside the point.

But I'm on another forum for colorectal cancers, and many of those people have their surgeries and never get an ostomy of any kind. Others are given temporary ileostomies prior to radiation treatment.

The treatment paths are quite varied. I don't know the reasons for one versus the other. It probably depends on where the tumor is, how big it is, and a bunch of other factors. I don't believe anyone here can say for sure.

Thanks. My appointment with the surgeon is May 28, and that was one of my questions.

Good luck, Supermom.

IGGIE