(Review) My mother had robotic surgery for colon cancer.

Last Wednesday, my mother had colon cancer surgery at Daegu Chilgok Kyungdae Hospital.

There are three main types of surgery for colon cancer: open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery.

In the past, open surgeries with many incisions were common, but these days, they make 3-4 small holes in the abdomen and perform surgery using laparoscopy or robotics.

Open surgery < Laparoscopy < Robotic surgery in order of faster recovery.

 

My mother had stage 3 colon cancer, and her uterus was removed during the birth of my younger sibling.

Due to uterine adhesions, laparoscopic or robotic surgery may be difficult, and open surgery might be necessary.

In the end, I successfully underwent robotic surgery and was very grateful to the professor.

 

My mother has never had a colonoscopy even during health check-ups.

Since last year, I have been bleeding from my rectum, but I thought it was hemorrhoids and dismissed it as nothing serious.

So my younger sibling said something was strange, so I decided to have a colonoscopy, and I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.

Health check-ups seem truly essential.

 

 

 

It was like this from the colonoscopy to the surgical process.

 

 

February 23 - Colonoscopy
February 27 - biopsy results are in
March 8 - Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital rectal fistula examination
March 17 - Detailed Examination
April 5th - Diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer
April 10 - Multidisciplinary care
April 19-21, 24-25 - Radiation therapy
5/2 - Chemotherapy port insertion
May 3rd - First round of chemotherapy
May 17 - Second round of chemotherapy May 31 - Third round of chemotherapy
June 23 - 4th round of chemotherapy
June 26 - Preoperative examination
June 28 - Pre-surgery professor meeting
7/12 - Robotic Surgery

 

Treatment process

Radiation therapy 5 sessions -> Chemotherapy 4 sessions -> Surgery -> Chemotherapy 8 sessions

There are still 8 rounds of chemotherapy remaining.

 

He experienced severe abdominal pain due to radiation side effects and visited the emergency room 2-3 times.

I also received a prescription for painkillers containing narcotics.

 

It had spread to the lymph nodes, but fortunately, due to the effects of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, the condition has significantly improved.

So, I met with the professor on June 28th and scheduled the surgery date.

 

It was about 4-5 months after almost being diagnosed with cancer that I had surgery.

 

 

 

I was hospitalized the day before the surgery, and my mother's condition was also good.

Various tests such as blood tests, electrocardiograms, pulmonary function tests, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans were performed.

My younger sibling accompanied me for the admission procedures and tests, and I left work two hours early from the company.

I took a PCR test at the hospital and immediately passed the baton to my younger sibling.

 

 

I sent a selfie when I called my mom before surgery!

My younger sibling almost took care of everything, including the pre-surgery tests at the hospital and the medication to empty my bowels, so I didn't have much to do.
My younger sibling is in their early twenties, and I usually drive them to chemotherapy and hospital visits (I am married, and my sibling is single).

I am always grateful to my younger sibling.

 

I was on-call guardian at the hospital in the afternoon the day before the surgery and slept in the guardian's bed.

The primary caregiver can only have one person due to COVID-19.

 

 

Surgery was performed at 11 a.m.

Earlier, the nurse told me to practice breathing and coughing exercises.

While continuing breathing and coughing exercises and reassuring her, the mother went into the operating room.

 

 

 

They say the surgery will take 3-4 hours, but even at 4 PM, my mom still hadn't come outㅠㅠ

I was anxious because I didn't know whether I would have open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, or robotic surgery until the operation.

The professor said we won't know until we go into surgeryㅠ

I was worried because the recovery would be slow with open surgery.

 

I also had a worry that my mother might be doing something wrong.

I was very tired because I hardly slept the night before, but I couldn't fall asleep.

 

 

It was only after 4:30 PM that my mom's status changed to "surgery finished and recovering."

And you came out around 5 o'clock!!

All the family members were relieved, and the relatives received a flood of phone calls.

 

The surgery went well, and it was performed using robotic surgery.

I think the doctors are really amazing for performing surgery by making four holes.

 

Mom walked the day after her surgery and is still recovering.

He says his condition is getting better day by day.

 

 

It was decided that a stoma could be created, but since the surgical site was well sutured and everything was fine, the stoma was not created.

You are free from fasting this Monday and are starting with thin rice porridge.

 

 

He is the professor who performed surgery on my mother.

Professor Choi Kyu-seok is an authority on colon cancer.

 

I'm really glad that the person who should be in Seoul is in Daegu.

Even the Saudi prince is said to come to Professor Choi Gyu-seok for surgery.

 

 

 

 

The surgery went well, and I'm glad that your condition has improved.

Thank you very much to Professor Choi Gyu-seok who performed my mom's surgery.