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Will taking out my colon give me a 0% chance of colon cancer? AND nutrition question

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/25/2014 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
Just a really quick question.

Been thinking of having part of my colon removed if my symptoms start to get really bad (theyre fine right now, I usually flare once a year).

If I have the disease part of my colon taken out, what are the chances I can still develop colon cancer?

Would it be the same chances had I never had gotten colitis? Or would it be even less because I only have a small portion of my colon remaining?

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Aside from that, if I get part of my colon removed, will my colon still be absorbing all the nutrition I need?
Does this surgery reduce life expectancy at all because of the lack of nutrition you're getting since
only a small portion of the colon is absorbing your nutrients?
Posted 8/25/2014 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe someone with more knowledge of UC surgery can correct me if Im wrong, but Ive never heard of a partial colectomy, especially not for UC.... it would completely defeat the purpose. They usually do a total proctocolectomy (removal of rectum and colon). In such a case, it is obviously impossible to get colon cancer.

Also, your colon doesnt absorb nutrients. It only absorbs water and minerals. While these are important, your body compensates, so no there is no decrease in life expectancy as far as I am aware.
Posted 8/25/2014 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
Oh wow good to know! Can anyone else confirm this about there being no decrease in life expectancy?
Posted 8/25/2014 6:53 AM (GMT 0)
No partial colectomy for UC.
The rest of the colon would just be affected by the disease instead... so it would be pointless.

Only option on that front is to have the whole thing out. Very very big decision and major surgery. Changes your whole life around.
Amazing for people with no quality of life due to this darn disease! I know I have my life back.

Living with an Ileostomy like I have, has no decrease in life expectancy.
Nutrients are absorbed in your small intestine. This is why Crohn's disease can have such a terrible impact of malnutrition on Crohn's patients... since their small intestines are affected (with UC only the colon/rectum are affected.)

Surgery as an option for treatment in Ulcerative Colitis is a pretty big deal. I would suggest reading up on this on the CCFA website... or other places which you can find in the Resources post on the main forum page.

Knowledge is power. Feel free to ask questions about specifics or opinions... but the "facts" can easily be found on that website, as well with a quick Google search :)
Posted 8/25/2014 11:59 AM (GMT 0)
Generally speaking it shouldn't decrease life expectancy but there is no one size fits all. UC can attack your whole colon and probably eventually will with no treatments. It's not as simple as taking a diseased part out and you're cured. If that were the case a huge majority of UC'rs would just take their diseased part out and be done with it or the doctors would do colon transplants. In a way, UC is not really a disease but your body's immune system gone whacko, attacking your colon wall. That doesn't change if you take the diseased part out (or if you were to get a transplant). It will still attack your remaining colon or your new colon.
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