Read article Coping with a colostomy after anal cancer
This page has information about coping with a colostomy.
Coping with a colostomy after anal cancer
If you have had a colostomy you will be given help to deal with it, both practically and emotionally. It will take time to get used to this change, but most people learn to do so. Your stoma nurse can provide help and support at all stages.
Your mood and body image
It is normal to feel worried about how you will look with a colostomy, and how others may react. You might find it helpful if a close family member is there while the stoma nurse teaches you to manage the colostomy. That way you can both get used to it and ask any questions you may have.
As you learn to manage your colostomy, its effect on your daily life should lessen. With time, doing everyday things will feel easier. If you feel low or depressed about your colostomy, you could contact your GP, your stoma nurse or one of the bowel cancer or colostomy organisations.
Job, sports and hobbies
Unless you do heavy manual work, your colostomy should not make any difference to your job. Ask your stoma nurse if you are unsure. Your colostomy will not stop you enjoying your favourite pastimes. Even strenuous exercise and swimming are possible. Once again, your stoma nurse can give you advice.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the living with anal cancer section.
It takes time to come to terms with a diagnosis of cancer and the treatment you need. You have to cope with the knowledge of having cancer as well as the physical effects of treatment.
If you have had a colostomy as part of your treatment you will have help to deal with this practically and emotionally. It can take time to get used to this change but most people learn to do so. The stoma nurse can help you by providing advice and support at all stages.
You can find more information about the operation to make a colostomy and recovering after surgery in the section about surgery for anal cancer.
If you need a colostomy it is normal to feel worried about how you will look, and how other people may react. While you are in hospital the stoma nurse will teach you how to deal with your stoma. You might find it helpful if a close family member is there too. Then you both get used to your colostomy and can ask the nurse any questions you have.
Once you get home, help is still available if you need it. You might have problems or questions about managing practically with your colostomy. Or you may feel low or depressed. If this happens you could contact
- Your GP
- Your stoma nurse
- Our cancer information nurse team
- One of the bowel cancer or colostomy organisations
As you learn to manage your colostomy, the effect it has on your daily life should lessen. With time, things like going to work, going out to socialise and taking part in sports and hobbies will feel easier.
Unless your work involves heavy digging, or other kinds of manual work, having a colostomy should not make any difference to your job. If you are not sure about this, ask your stoma nurse for advice.
The colostomy won't stop you enjoying your favourite pastimes. All sorts of physical activities are possible - even strenuous exercise and swimming. Your stoma nurse can give you advice on how to protect your stoma. And about waterproof bags and seals for swimming and other water activities.
You may need to make some changes to your diet when you have a colostomy. There is information about diet changes in this section.
There is information about how a colostomy may affect your sex life in the next section.
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