Q. Can I choose which way the wound is cut?
A. YES. As a patient, you have rights! If you wish the doctor to cut horizontally or vertically, or to perform less invasive keyhole surgery, you must ask him if this is possible. For many women who like to wear bikinis or mid-riffs, having a vertical scar down the middle of the body can cause psychological and confidence problems in the future. Ask your doctor if it is possible for him to cut horizontally and as low as possible for aesthetic reasons. If you are worried about scarring, there is plastic surgery available later and also many natural treatments available to lesson the effects of scars. Remember also that you will lose sensation around the area where the skin has been cut for a period of time.
Q. Should I do anything prior to the operation to aid in a faster recovery?
A. YES. This is very important. Try to build up your strength, health and nutritional levels prior to the operation. If you are a smoker it would be advisable for you to give up smoking before surgery, as nicotine robs the body of valuable oxygen and nutrients required for healing, not to mention the stress it places on the heart under anaesthetic. It is important to eat lots of good protein, as protein assists in tissue healing. Do deep breathing exercises to improve haemoglobin levels, aerobic and strengthening exercises, stretching, yoga and positive visualizations and affirmations. Never go into an operation tired or negative. It is important to be as energized as possible and to always visualize the most positive outcome.
Q. Will I feel more emotional than usual?
A. YES. On finding out you have cancer right through to the treatment and the acceptance of your condition, your body’s emotions may feel like they’re being put through a washing machine. Medication and anaesthetics tend to congest the body’s organs, which creates emotional imbalance. You may feel sadness, anger, blame, confusion, denial or fear — a whole multitude of emotions. Use this time to grow stronger, accept your condition and find ways to overcome the causative factors in your life that led to the onset of your cancer. Never give up! There is a lesson in every experience in life and having cancer will enable you to grow stronger and become more aware in every facet of your existence.
Q. How will I feel if any of my organs are removed?
A. If part or any of your organs are removed during surgery, it feels like part of who you are is being taken away. No one understands this unless it happens to him or her. If you are unaware of this and you wake up to find your ovaries are gone or your prostate is gone, it is an extremely traumatic and debilitating experience. You may not feel like a full woman or man anymore, in more ways than one.
This is why it is so important to be 100 per cent aware of what the doctor plans to do and to be completely in agreement before the operation. Seek other opinions and also never forget to seek alternative methods and therapies – there may be another way. Counseling, support from loved ones, compassion and understanding all go hand in hand to overcoming these overwhelming life experiences.
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