Bum Briefing #11 by Beth

We are prepping for the home stretch in Eric’s cancer treatment. His surgery is on October 13, with yet another colonoscopy the day before. In this Bum Briefing, I’ll update everyone on a few more things we’ve learned in the last few weeks, talk about how we are preparing for surgery, and what we are anticipating for the recovery. 

We saw Eric’s oncologist last Monday. The symptoms Eric has been experiencing are completely normal and to be expected because of the type of chemo he was on. These are symptoms like numbness and tingling in his hands and feet, sharp nerve pain, and fatigue. Unfortunately some of these symptoms will likely be sticking around for years… and may be permanent to a certain extent. Right now, the symptoms are at their peak, and should start getting better gradually over the course of a few months to years.

We also got the results of the genetic testing that was completed on his tumor. Eric’s family will be interested to know that his cancer is not genetic, and does not have any signs of mutations that would complicate treatment. His oncologist called his cancer “basic, run-of-the-mill colorectal cancer,” which in this context is good because they know what works. His prognosis is still very good, and his doctors are still very confident.

The surgery he’s getting is called a low anterior resection (LAR) with a diverting loop ileostomy (DLI). We are anticipating him being in the hospital for 3-5 days, but when patients experience complications, they can be in the hospital for longer. You can find more about the type of surgery he’s getting here: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/treating/rectal-surgery.html The surgery will be robot assisted by a robot called the DaVinci machine https://www.davincisurgery.com/procedures/colorectal-surgery 

He will be getting a temporary ostomy, which will be reversed in a second surgery, hopefully about 8 weeks later. Recovery at home will take at least 6 weeks for the first surgery, and he’ll be on a 10 lb weight restriction during that time. The last thing we want is for him to develop a hernia.  For those of you who know Eric, know that this will be difficult for him…. When Eric is discharged from the hospital, he will have a home health nurse to help him adjust and care for his new/temporary ostomy. 

Getting back to a normal diet will likely be a slow process as he heals. He will be on a low fiber diet for a while, which he’s been on for short periods of time before. Basically, he will need to avoid any raw fruits and vegetables, seeds, beans, and whole grains… the general rule of thumb is less than 4 grams of fiber per serving. He may also need to avoid other foods that can cause stomach upset… so things like spicy foods, foods that are high in fat, milk, and alcohol. I’ll be looking forward to talking with the dietician in the hospital to learn more about what he CAN eat.

We want to thank everyone again for all the love and support this past year. We consider ourselves really lucky and privileged as we have gone through this. As a Social Worker, I definitely know that there are people who deal with life altering diagnoses everyday, and do not have the support and resources that we have been so privileged to have. Both of our workplaces have been super supportive, and Eric’s insurance has been great so far.

We also appreciate all the offers of help. We don’t know what we will need coming up, but it is good to know that there are people we can rely on. This phase will be different because Eric shouldn’t do much because of the weight restrictions, where during chemo and radiation, he could push himself and do most things… just a little slower. 

So, how can you help? 

Eric will probably tap on your shoulder if you have a skill for something that I’m completely unqualified for…. so look forward to that.
If you would like to make something for us, just remember his low fiber diet, and also know that Eric hates onions! Desserts and baked goods are also welcome!
If you are not comfortable making something, but still want to do something, we have been pretty reliant on DoorDash, Grub Hub, the Buck and Honey’s in Waunakee, and Panera this year.