Side effects of colon surgery include sexual dysfunction, bladder complications diarrhea, irregular bowel movements, and a sense of urinary urgency. Most patients do not experience fecal incontinence. Follow-up Care after Colectomy. Patients with colostomies must learn how to care for the stoma and keep the area sanitary. In cases where the colostomy is permanent, the patient must wear a colostomy pouch, which sticks to the skin using a special glue.
Men tend to have more emotional difficulties dealing with permanent colostomies than women do.
The potential side effects of sexual and bowel dysfunction for colorectal patients can also be devastating. Colon cancer patients without a colostomy are at lower risk for these problems than patients with rectal cancer whose sphincter muscles are affected, but no one is immune to the psychologic repercussions of cancer and its consequences. Positive emotions play a strong role in recovery. Patients who are depressed should discuss with a physician all aspects of treatment that affect the quality of life and possibly seek support groups. III Colon Cancer Drug treatments are sometimes used after surgery to kill microscopic amounts of residual tumor cells.