Rectal surgery is done when a tumour is present in the rectum. Dr. Noorbhai will work in conjunction with the rest of your oncology team. Depending on how far the cancer has spread you may have surgery in conjunction with chemotherapy and radiation. Depending on the stage of cancer, you may have one of the following surgeries:
Rectal surgery is done to remove a cancerous tumour from the rectum. The type of surgery will depend on the stage of cancer you have been diagnosed with and the location of the tumour. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, chemotherapy and radiation may be advised in combination with surgery and therefore a plan should be discussed with your oncologist and Dr. Noorbhai.
Most patients are able to go home after 14 days of observation in the hospital. How soon you will be discharged from hospital depends on whether you are able to drink liquids when waking up, how much pain you have and whether you have someone to look after you at home. If you have had a colostomy and stoma implanted, you may require longer time in observation.
For a few days after surgery, you will not be able to eat anything and will remain on a liquid diet until your rectum has healed. You may experience pain after surgery, however Dr. Noorbhai will try make you as comfortable as possible. You will be monitored in hospital for the next two weeks.
You will be able to resume normal after surgery within the next 6 weeks.
The risk of complications during open surgery include:
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