Radiation and Chemo Effects on Colostomy

Hello friends. I have recently had robotic surgery to remove cancer in my left lung. I will be starting treatment with radiation and chemotherapy in addition to the surgery soon. I am wondering how the treatment may affect my colostomy. I would appreciate any input from others who have gone through this or know of anyone who has. Thanks.

You need to check with your doc, but my chemo for endometrial cancer gave me constipation, so I was taking Miralax twice a day to keep from blocking things up. Also, the ice boots and gloves did actually keep me from getting really bad neuropathy; I got it just in my toes. Good luck!

At least for colorectal cancer, they sometimes give people temporary ileostomies to help manage radiation better. The radiation for colorectal cancer often causes bad diarrhea and pelvic floor issues. I know from personal experience that these side effects often result in accidents. So for some people, the radiation is more tolerable with an ileostomy. Details may not be relevant to your cancer, but I think it indicates that stomas tolerate radiation well.

I can't speak to chemo.

I got my ileostomy before I started chemo for my colon cancer. You will need to be on the lookout for either high output or constipation. Luckily, I didn't have either issue - I guess the anti-diarrheal premeds I was given did the trick.

Wish I had known about the ice boots and gloves.

No idea, Hugo, but best of luck on your procedure!

Terry

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No idea with a bag, but I'd guess it would be about the same as with no bag. So, in my case, the chemotherapy tears your stomach up, and you get diarrhea, and the radiation plugs everything up, so you get constipation. At least with a good sealed bag, you shouldn't ruin any clothes like I did. 🤭😬😁 Good luck; both things tear your body up.

Thanks, Alex. I can always count on you to tell it like it is!

Thanks, Terry. I appreciate it.

Thanks for your input, Susan.

Thank you.

Thank you. I will definitely check with my oncologist and my surgeon who performed my colostomy operation.

Thanks for your advice.

G-Day Hugo,

I hope it all goes well for you. We will all send good vibes to help you recover. Keep us updated.

Regards, IGGIE

Thanks. You are very kind. I appreciate it.

Ditto

Like Iggie says ..........

We'll send our best thoughts and hope all goes well for you.

I have no experience of lung surgery - and only had chemo, followed by radiation for lymphoma - in the axilla .... fast grow ...... 7-day excision - with a trace of a couple of cells in the lung [but no surgical intervention to the lung].

Hugo, wish you well ......................

If you have sensitivities, be prepared to deal with the aftermath from the radiation ....... for IMHE, the chemo takes its toll, but positive intention and holding a forward goal help enormously ............ so try to remain focused .....

GOOD LUCK

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jayne ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Keep us posted as you progress

You are not alone!

Thank you so much, Jayne. The support I get from you and others on this site is appreciated more than I can say.

BTW .... When I did radiation therapy after having completed the chemo treatments, [as I am naturally 'fair' - i.e., very pale skin] I was struggling with the repeated target beams in the same place - and as such, I used to actually take a live plant of aloe vera with me to the treatments - leave it with my clothes in the locker cubicle ..... so that immediately upon completing treatment I could cut the succulent leaf and put on the actual natural gel from the plant directly onto my 'heated' skin.

The chemical treatment for rad. burns works too - for I also did this but much later in the process for other things ...... BUT the natural IMMEDIATE TREATMENT meant that I could put on an open very soft net/gauze dressing around my shoulder and give some protection to the underarm before putting my bra/clothes back on.

I still have the plant - which, I am pleased to report, continues to flourish and is very much alive and well - having contributed to others too :-) ...... so no harm came to the aloe vera .... Aloo-aloo [just before someone else does, lol.

IF you ARE sensitive when it comes to the rad. treatment - you may consider this.

I jest not:

TIMING and freshness is of the essence ... [Rather like the difference, you may be familiar with, of taking a boiling pan of water to the sweet corn plant and cutting the corn directly into the pan] ...... absolutely MAX BENEFIT is achieved [sugar IS captured directly from the sweet corn plant ..... 'cause so much is 'lost' in delay/transit of a cut cob].

.... A pharma version - even 'organic' product gel is no like-for-like substitute .... but obviously is a 'convenient' pocket option ;-) ...... But never mind what folk think .... If you have a plant - it WILL travel and give of its best ........

[I still thank mine!]

To iterate GOOD LUCK, Hugo

..... and to others receiving the 'rays' ..... for human innovation is ever progressing ...... but, for now, we need to tolerate and receive what help we may encounter.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PPS .....

Sorry about the 'y' Iggie ..... I have corrected your name on Edit, whoops.

BEST INTENTION ..... and HOPE is ALL

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Though I must disagree with the corn cooking recommendation... cook the corn on the cob, then cut it off if desired. That is much sweeter than cutting it prior to cooking.

I was talking about cutting the whole corm from the actual plant .....

And yes, there's nothing more satisfying than working around a well buttered and peppered corm ....... there's no ladylike way to enjoy this .............. lip liners, eat your heart out!

:-))