Colon and Liver Surgery Details
Hi everyone! It's been a long time since the last post because I have just been preparing for surgery. Since the last post, I've met with the colon surgeon, Dr. Alessando Fichera at the UW Surgery Pavilion who will be performing the colon resection who went into details about the surgery. He is a nationally renowned surgeon who has been specializing in colon cancer, is a professor of surgery at UW, and was voted top doctor for 2014.
The surgery, scheduled for September 25th, will begin on with an epidural which will numb my insides, to be followed up by a general anesthesia to put me to sleep. Then the liver surgeon, Dr. Raymond Yeung, will start with either an incision which may run down the middle of my midsection, or diagonal. He will then remove the cancerous parts of my liver on both nodes. The surgeon described the liver as a blood sponge, so the risk of blood loss is associated with the liver surgery.
After the liver surgeon is complete, the colon surgeon will either continue the incision down the middle of my midsection, or if the liver doctor used a diagonal incision, he will create a horizontal incision along my pelvis. He will then cut the cancerous parts of the colon with surgical scissors and reconnect the healthy parts. Depending on how much is removed and where the colon is reconnected, the surgeon may also do a colostomy, which may require me to have a temporary bag for waste. This is performed by creating a stoma or port for the small intestine to have an outlet to the lower-right of my belly button. I may have the bag for 6 or so weeks, and if given the bag, will require another surgery to remove and close the stoma.
Overall the surgery will take 5-7 hours and I'll be in the hospital for 5-7 days. I may also spend the first night in the ICU depending on how much blood loss there was from the liver resection. I'll talk to Dr. Back after surgery regarding what to do with the cancer on my lungs, but it will most likely be another surgery.
Please send more positive thoughts and prayers for the surgeons and surgery in general. I'll update you after the surgery, which I'm sure will go smoothly; talk to you all soon!
Comments (20)
Thank you for the update, positive thoughts are being sent your way.
You remain in my thoughts and prayers, Jerome! This is yet another important step in your healing and you have many people pulling for you. See you again soon😊!
Thanks for the update Jerome! This is a big step! Good luck and I pray that everything goes as planned!
You're in my thoughts Jerome <3
Prayers and blessings for your family and especially you, Jerome! The Jizz I know is definitely going to get through this!
prayers prayers and more prayers! Thank you for the update Jerome!!
Wishing you the speediest of recoveries from the surgery. You are in our prayers and thoughts!
Thanks for the update. Been thinking and praying for you and your family! Hoping for a speedy recovery.
Good to hear from you! Nic and I will be thinking of you and keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. I'm so glad you have such a good surgical team. I hope you can rest and relax a bit before surgery and we wish you a speedy and easy recovery.
Stay strong mate. Thinking of you.
Thanks for the details of the planned surgery and it's great hearing you got aligned with top notch Doctors/Surgeons. We are praying for the most successful procedure. Keep at it all.
Praying for you and your family!!! Wish you the speediest of recovery from the surgery!!!
Yes, prayers and positivity for a successful surgery and speedy recovery! I'll come bug you everyday during your stay 😁 keep strong brother! Love you much
Jerome, I'm happy to hear that you are ready for the surgery and I hope that it is uneventful and brings you back home soon. I will be thinking of you.
Wishing you a safe surgery and a speedy recovery Jerome!
Thanks for the update Jerome - we're certainly thinking of you this week! Your hard fighting journey through chemo has brought you to tomorrow's milestone, be proud of yourself! Yours is a success story in taking cancer head-on and consider the surgery a tremendously big step in getting the job done. Prayers for the best outcome and a swift recovery - we love you!
Sending you lots of love and positive vibrations! You are a true champ! Will keep you I our thoughts til we get back to visit you!
We are always praying for you Jerome. May God be with you as He leads you to a successful surgery. God bless you always and the family. Love always, Aunt Telly and Uncle Darryl
Praying for you and all those involved with your surgery. Love you loads, Jenny and Paul
We love you Jerome!! Special prayers for you and everyone involved today. Stay strong. God's got this.