What Can I Expect For My Colon Cancer Recovery?
Recovering from Colon Cancer can often be an emotional and physically draining process. However, it is not the time to take a back seat and relax. After the cancer has been removed, it becomes extremely important to make sure that it does not return again. For this, you need to be vigilant and go for regular follow up treatment. A health care team will make sure that you return to normal activities as soon as possible. A physical therapist will help you to use your body again. Regular checkups after surgery are necessary to determine any new cancerous growths which can then be immediately removed. Checkups usually include chest x-rays, colonoscopy and blood tests. If you find any abnormalities after surgery, you must inform your doctor immediately. Do not expect to return to a normal lifestyle within a day after surgery. It will definitely be a challenging process. You will need to give time and patience for wounds to heal and for you to maintain a normal lifestyle. You also need to understand that the recovery time for colon cancer depends on which stage of cancer you were in. On an average, it takes about two months to be normal again. After surgery, you will probably have to stay at the hospital for a few more days in order to make sure your body is functioning normally. During this time your intestines will be inactive for many days. No food or drink will be given to you orally for five days. A pipe through the nose will transmit liquids to your stomach. Intravenous infusions will also provide fluids to prevent dehydration. Pain medicine will also be given to you through intravenous injections so that you can avoid discomfort. After the intestines start functioning, you will be kept on a liquid diet so that the stomach can adjust to the food. During the recovery period, you should avoid lifting heavy things. It may cause a muscle to rip in the abdominal wall since it is quite weak at this point. Use a doctor’s recommendation to start building abdominal muscles. This should be done slowly and progressively. A high fiber diet will become necessary. Certain foods may cause gas, diarrhea and constipation the first few times. Avoid them for the time being and bring them later into your diet again. If you follow these instructions during your recovery period and after your surgery, you will experience minimal discomfort and a faster recovery process. |
