Facing a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Our Patient Guide & Resources section is here to provide you with the information, support, and resources you need to make informed decisions and access the care you deserve.
Empowering Patients with Information and Support: Explore comprehensive resources, guidance, and tools tailored to help navigate your cancer journey with confidence and resilience.
Surgery is always a bold decision not only for you but for your treating surgeon as well. The magnitude of cancer surgery is definitely different and higher compared to the routine surgical procedures that one may have heard of.
Surgery puts you out of action for quite a while depending on your disease status and thus makes you think about your recovery and how painful will it be or how long will it take for you to get back to your day-to-day activities.
In some cases the chemo is circulated through tubes in the abdomen after the abdomen has been closed (closed technique).
This type of chemotherapy is best at killing cancer cells that are too small to be seen with the naked eye- these include cancer cells that may have been released from larger tumors during the surgery or cells that have been released if the appendix has perforated or ruptured. Peritoneal chemotherapy prevents these cells from being left behind to form new cancerous tumors in the abdomen.
Colostomy surgery is done for many different diseases and problems. Some colostomies are done because of malignancy (cancer), others are not. A child, may need one because of a birth defect.
Sometimes a colostomy is only needed for a short time, sometimes it is life-long. Some colostomies are large, some small; some are on the left side of the abdomen, some are on the right side, others may be in the middle.
A stoma, the opening created during the surgery, resembles the lining of the intestine and varies in size and shape. It is moist, pink to red in color, and lacks control over stool passage. Stool is collected in special pouches called colostomy bags.
A colostomy doesn't alter the body's chemistry or digestive function. The intestines continue to absorb nutrients, and the main functions of the colon remain unchanged.
The location of the colostomy in the colon affects stool consistency. A higher colostomy produces softer stool as less water is absorbed, while a lower one results in more solid stool.
People with colostomies may still experience urges to pass stool or have discharge from the anal area due to mucus left from the surgery. Irrigation may help manage stool elimination.
Stomas typically shrink to their final size within 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Some may protrude slightly, while others are flush with the skin. It's important to follow post-surgery care instructions provided by healthcare professionals for optimal recovery and management.
A transverse colostomy is made from the transverse or the horizontal part of the colon. The transverse colostomy is in the upper abdomen, either in the middle or toward the right side of the body. Colon problems like diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, obstruction (blockage), injury, or birth defects can lead to a transverse colostomy.
A transverse colostomy diverts stool from the descending colon, facilitating healing in the lower bowel, but often requiring a temporary pouching system for stool collection.
A sigmoid colostomy is made from the lower portion of the intestine called Sigmoid colon. Because there is more working colon, it may produce more solid stool more regularly. The sigmoid colostomy is the most common type of colostomy. The stoma or the opening of the end colostomy is either sewn flush with the skin or it is turned back on itself (like the turned-down top of a sock).
Pouches come in many styles and sizes, but they all do the same job – they collect stool drainage that comes out of the stoma. Some can be opened at the bottom for easy emptying. Others are closed and taken off when they are full.
There are 2 main types of systems available: One-piece and Two-piece.
There may be less bowel activity at certain times in the day. It is easiest to change the bag system during these times. You may find that early morning before you eat or drink is best.
The skin around your stoma should always look the same as skin anywhere else on your abdomen. A colostomy that puts out firm stool usually causes few, if any skin problems. If the stool is loose, as is often the case with transverse colostomies, it can make the nearby skin tender and sore.
As you get stronger and get better at handling your equipment, skin irritation will become less of a problem. Protecting the skin around the stoma is very important.
Spots of blood are not a cause for alarm. Cleaning around the stoma as you change the pouch or skin barrier may cause slight bleeding. The blood vessels in the tissues of the stoma are very delicate at the surface and are easily disturbed. The bleeding will usually stop quickly. If it does not, call your ostomy nurse or your doctor.
Having a lot of hair around the stoma can make it hard to get the skin barrier to stick well and may cause pain when you remove it. Shaving with a razor or trimming hair with scissors is helpful. Extreme care should always be taken when using a straight edge or razor. A mild soap or shaving cream may be used.
Learning to take care of your colostomy may seem hard at first, but with practice and time it will become second nature, just like shaving or bathing.
Think of your colostomy’s function as you did your natural bowel movements. You still have the same bowel, just a little less of it. The real change is having the stool come out of an opening made on your belly (abdomen). Learning how to care for your colostomy will help you adjust.
Taking care of a colostomy varies depending on individual needs and preferences. Experiment with different methods during recovery to find what works best for you. Your healthcare team can assist in finding the most suitable approach to manage stool output and ensure comfort and confidence. Privacy and common sense are important considerations in adjusting to changes in body function.
Care of any colostomy is really not very hard to do, but getting to the point where you feel comfortable takes a lot of learning, a lot of practice, the right supplies, and a positive attitude. Keep in mind the following points:
Irrigating to have regular, controlled bowel movements is up to each person, but you should fully discuss it with your doctor or ostomy nurse before a decision is made. The irrigation procedure is taught and may be done a little differently depending on the experience of the doctor or nurse teaching you.
Special equipment includes a plastic irrigating container with a long tube and a cone or tip to put water into the colostomy. An irrigation sleeve is worn to take the irrigation output into the toilet.
There is no such thing as a colostomy diet. After healing is complete and the ostomy is working normally, most people with colostomies can return to foods they normally eat. Foods act differently in different people. It is good to try to return to your former normal diet.
Right after surgery it may seem that you have a lot of gas almost all the time. Most abdominal surgery is followed by this uncomfortable, embarrassing, yet harmless symptom. As the tissue swelling goes down, you will have less gas. But certain foods, such as eggs, cabbage, broccoli, onions, fish, beans, milk, cheese, and alcohol may cause gas.
Many factors, such as foods, normal bacterial action in your intestine, illness, different medicines, and vitamins can cause odour. Some foods can produce odour: eggs, cabbage, cheese, cucumber, onion, garlic, fish, dairy foods, and coffee are among them. If you find that certain foods bother you, avoid them.
Some people with colostomies have more trouble with odours than others. Learning by experience is the only solution to this problem. Odours may be worse with transverse colostomies.
What Is Open Surgery?
Some are concerned that an open surgery will lead to more pain but modern anaesthetic techniques such as epidural catheters (pain relieving medication is given through these thin catheters at the back) help to a great extent in relieving pain. Of course the cut may seem to be large but remains hidden at the abdomen or the chest under the clothes.
aparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses several small cuts in the skin to access the surgical area. The surgeon uses a tiny camera called the laparoscope to view inside the abdomen or the chest.
One of the important aspects of cancer surgery is that the cancer specimens are usually large as it involves clearance of large areas to avoid cancer cells coming back.
During laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon uses specialized instruments to grasp, cut, and remove tissue through the small incisions. These instruments are designed to be slender and precise, allowing the surgeon to maneuver them within the body cavity.
Additionally, the surgeon may use techniques such as morcellation, which involves breaking down larger tissue specimens into smaller fragments for easier removal through the tiny incisions. Once the surgical procedure is complete, the incisions are closed with sutures or surgical tape.
It is better to term this as Robotic-assisted surgery, as the procedure is assisted most of the times with a laparoscope. This also uses small incisions similar to laparoscopy.
The difference is instead of the surgeon using their hands to manually control the camera and instruments; they use the power and precision of a high tech machine which is called “Robot”.
When it comes to recovery, because the cut is smaller and handling of tissues is minimal and intestines don’t remain exposed to outside air and hence the recovery time is faster by 2-3 days, the pain is lesser and you don’t need epidural catheters and the magnification provided and coupled with artificial intelligence can give better outcomes.
When it comes to cost, because laparoscopic and robotic instrumentation adds on to the cost of the surgery plus the time taken to perform a complex cancer surgery by laparoscopy and robotic approach may be comparatively longer. The insurance companies have yet not completely approved the costs involved in these high end robotic surgeries. Nevertheless the applications of minimaly invasive surgery in cancer are expanding by the day.
HIPEC, or Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, is a procedure used to treat cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum. It involves two main components: cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
During HIPEC surgery, the patient undergoes cytoreductive surgery to remove visible tumors from the abdomen. Once the tumors are removed, the abdominal cavity is filled with a heated chemotherapy solution.
The heat helps to enhance the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drugs, which are circulated throughout the abdomen to target any remaining cancer cells. The procedure typically lasts several hours, and patients may require a hospital stay for recovery.
HIPEC surgery offers several potential benefits for cancer patients. By combining surgery with heated chemotherapy, HIPEC can effectively target cancer cells in the abdominal cavity and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
Additionally, HIPEC may improve treatment outcomes and enhance the quality of life for patients. However, it’s essential to note that HIPEC may not be suitable for all patients, and the decision to undergo this procedure should be made in consultation with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.
Before undergoing HIPEC surgery, patients should consider various factors, including their overall health, the stage of their cancer, and any potential risks or complications associated with the procedure. It’s essential to discuss the benefits and risks of HIPEC with a qualified healthcare provider and to ensure that the procedure is the right choice for individual treatment needs.
Chemotherapy port surgery, also known as a port-a-cath or a port, is a procedure commonly used in cancer treatment to provide easy and reliable access to the bloodstream for chemotherapy drugs.
It involves the implantation of a small medical device under the skin, usually in the chest area, to facilitate the delivery of medications directly into the bloodstream.
Living a cancer-smart lifestyle involves adopting habits that promote overall health and reduce the risk of cancer development or recurrence. This includes maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting processed foods, sugary snacks, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Smoking and using tobacco increase cancer risk significantly. Quitting smoking reduces this risk as tobacco contains over 4000 chemicals, including 60 carcinogens that spread through your body when inhaled. When you inhale cigarette smoke these chemicals enter your lungs and spread through your body.
By enjoying a healthy diet, being physically active every day and maintaining a healthy body weight, you can lower your risk of developing cancer. Healthy eating habits are a first step in reducing your cancer risk. Poor eating habits increase your risk of cancer at many sites in the body.
Poor eating habits can also contribute to weight gain and being overweight or obese increases your risk of cancer. The good news is that a healthy diet, combined with regular physical activity and a healthy body weight can reduce cancer risk.
If you enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods you will get the nutrients you need, reduce your cancer risk and are less likely to be overweight or obese. For most healthy people, vitamin and mineral supplements are not necessary when they eat well.
Avoid harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun which is the main cause of skin cancer. Protect your skin by seeking shade, wearing sunscreen, and covering up during peak sun hours to reduce your risk of skin cancer.
There is convincing evidence that drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the bowel, breast, mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus (food pipe) and liver. Even drinking small amounts of alcohol increases your cancer risk.
The more you drink, the greater the risk. If you choose to drink, limit your intake. The type of alcohol you drink doesn’t make any difference. Beer, wine and spirits all increase your risk of cancer.
It has been known for a long time that smoking is harmful to health. The combined effects of smoking and alcohol greatly increase the risk of cancer (more so than from either of these factors alone).
Up to 75 per cent of cancers of the upper airway and digestive tract can be related to alcohol plus smoking.
Being more active is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for bowel cancer and breast cancer, and possibly prostate, uterine and lung cancer.
Physical activity regulates hormones such as insulin-like growth factor and oestrogen and affects the speed that food passes through the bowel, reducing contact with any potential carcinogens.
Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. These cells can invade and destroy healthy tissue, forming tumors, and can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system. There are many types of cancer, each with unique characteristics and behaviors.
As mutant cells (those with mistakes in their genetic blueprint) grow and divide, a mass of abnormal cells or a tumour is formed. In some cases these cells will form a discrete lump, in other cases such as leukaemia (type of blood cancer), abnormal blood cells circulate around the body. Cancer cells can break away from the mass (or tumour) and travel via the bloodstream or lymphatic system to different parts of the body. These cells can settle in other parts of the body to form a secondary cancer or metastasis.
Early signs of cancer can vary but often include unusual lumps or swelling, unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, changes in skin appearance, persistent cough or hoarseness, and changes in bowel or bladder habits. These symptoms can be subtle and similar to other conditions, making early detection through regular screenings crucial.
Cancer is caused by genetic mutations that can be inherited or acquired due to environmental factors, lifestyle choices, or infections. Common risk factors include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to radiation or toxic chemicals, certain infections (like HPV or hepatitis), and chronic inflammation. These factors can damage DNA and lead to uncontrolled cell growth.
Cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity, though risk increases with age. Certain genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors, such as smoking, diet, and physical activity, can also influence the likelihood of developing cancer. Some cancers are more common in specific populations due to genetic or environmental factors.
Cancer is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person through physical contact, sharing food, or being in close proximity. However, certain viruses and bacteria that can increase the risk of cancer, such as HPV and hepatitis B and C, can be transmitted between people, indirectly influencing cancer risk.
Cancer can cause pain, especially as it progresses and affects surrounding tissues and organs. Pain can result from tumors pressing on nerves, bones, or other structures, or from treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Pain management is an important aspect of cancer care, and various strategies are available to alleviate discomfort.
Cancer is not always fatal; many types of cancer are treatable and even curable, especially when detected early. Advances in medical treatments and technologies have significantly improved survival rates. However, outcomes can vary depending on the type, stage, and aggressiveness of the cancer, as well as the patient's overall health.
Early detection of cancer involves regular screenings and being aware of any unusual changes in your body. Common screening tests include mammograms for breast cancer, Pap smears for cervical cancer, colonoscopies for colorectal cancer, and skin checks for skin cancer. Consult with your healthcare provider to determine appropriate screenings based on your risk factors.
If surgery is not possible, other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these may be used. These treatments aim to shrink the tumor, control its spread, and alleviate symptoms. Palliative care may also be provided to improve quality of life and manage symptoms.
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses powerful drugs to kill fast-growing cancer cells or stop their growth. It can be administered orally, intravenously, or through other methods, and is often used in combination with other treatments. Chemotherapy can target cancer cells throughout the body but may also affect healthy cells, leading to side effects.
Radiotherapy, or radiation therapy, uses high-energy radiation to target and destroy cancer cells. It can be delivered externally through a machine or internally by placing radioactive material near the cancer site. Radiotherapy is effective in shrinking tumors and killing cancer cells but can also damage nearby healthy tissue, causing side effects.
Side effects of cancer treatment vary depending on the type and duration of treatment but can include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, pain, skin changes, and increased susceptibility to infections. Long-term effects might include heart or lung problems, infertility, or secondary cancers. Managing side effects is an important part of comprehensive cancer care.
Alternative treatments for cancer include therapies that are used alongside conventional treatments to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. These can include acupuncture, herbal remedies, massage therapy, yoga, and dietary changes. It's important to discuss any alternative treatments with your healthcare provider to ensure they are safe and complementary to your standard care.
Dr. Deepak Chhabra is a consultant Surgical Oncologist with an extensive experience in cancer surgeries. He is has specialized in Hepato (Liver) -Biliary (Gallbladder) and Pancreatic Cancer Surgeries.