There has been a dramatic increase of colon cancer occurrence in Asia for the past 10 years and the population is wondering what is going on. The disease can affect both the young and older adults. It is highly probable that lifestyle is the chief culprit: smoking, alcohol, a diet of processed meat with little or no vegetables, etc. In the past year alone, I personally know 5 people who had to undergo a colostomy surgery when they were diagnosed with colon cancer.
The partial or complete removal of a colon is scary and confusing for some, an indication that death is near. The mere thought of colostomy surgery can drive family members to depression. It is such a drastic step and for the uninformed, it is death served on a platter.
Depressing as it may sound, colostomy surgery can actually save lives. This is a procedure wherein a part of your colon, or all of it, is surgically removed due to certain diseases like colon cancer, obstructions, defects, all of which can affect bowel movement. The process is to clear a path from the intestine to the abdominal wall so as to make sure that waste material inside the body is passed out efficiently. The waste can be passed into a bag that is left outside of the body. This bag can be manually cleaned and sterilized and be replaced at any given length of time. The safe exit of the waste ensures that no toxins will remain inside the body. This is a much healthier option than be placed in a body bag because the poison from the toxins that cannot be released from the body has finally taken over.
There are three types of colostomy surgery: ascending colostomy (opening at the right side of abdomen where the ascending colon is located), transverse colostomy (one or two openings across the abdomen where the transverse colon is located), and descending colostomy (opening at the left side of abdomen where the descending or sigmoid colon is located). The colostomy can be temporary or permanent; this depends on the severity and progress of the affecting disease.
Recovery from colostomy surgery can last up to six weeks. Hospital stay of 3 to 6 days is dependent of your recovery and if no complications in post op recovery happens. The usual precautions are advised to the patient and the usual rounds of pain relievers and antibiotics are prescribed. Before you are released from the hospital, the patient has to be educated on the proper care of the opening on the abdominal wall as well as the colostomy bag. The dietician will give you a very thorough list of what and what not to eat at what amounts.
Colostomy surgery has saved countless millions and made life easier for them. It does not mean death for them, but rather a second chance at life. For those who survived several years with a colostomy bag securely held on their torso, life is sweet. The change of lifestyle is the first indication that the road to recovery is one step away.