Recovering from Stomach Cancer Surgery

Stomach cancer surgery is an operation that is significant and drastic, however it is also often necessary to remove the cancer from the stomach and prolong a person's life. The surgery is intense and recovery is also quite involved and takes several weeks to run its course. Knowing what to expect before the surgery can make recovery easier.

Early Recovery

• The recovery process begins when waking up in the ICU. As long as the surgery went well, the doctor will move you to the ward within a day or so after the surgery. In the ICU, you'll probably be drowsy and disoriented because of the pain medications.

  Recognize the tubes that you might have in you. There will be an IV drip to give you sustenance until you are able to eat and drink again. There'll be another tube coming from the abdomen that keeps blood and bile from collecting around the wound. There also will be a tube that goes through your nose, down your throat and into your stomach to keep the stomach drained.

  Tell your doctor or nurse if pain intensifies. It is important that they know what ails you. Often, those who have had stomach cancer surgery will have an epidural in their backs. An epidural is a thin tube that provides a constant supply of pain medication to the body.

Eating and Drinking

• Because stomach cancer surgery affects the digestive system, the bowel often does not work for a few days. It typically takes about one week before you are allowed to start eating again.

  You will receive your sustenance through a drip that includes liquid food. This line may go into a large feeding tube in your chest. It also is possible that you can have food placed directly into the bowel through a feeding tube.

  Begin drinking gradually at first. You must start with small sips of clear fluid. If you can show that you are able to handle these drinks, others--such as milk and soup--can be added.

  Eat several small meals for the first few weeks. It is unlikely you will have an appetite to eat three large meals a day. Continue to do exercises and eat well and you should be able to eat normally within a few weeks.

Continual Recovery

• Start moving very gradually. Although it may seem impossible at first to move at all, a physiotherapist will visit you each day to help you work on breathing and leg exercises.

  Two days after the surgery, nurses will encourage you to sit in a chair and get out of bed from time to time. After a few days, the tubes, bags and bottles will be removed. This will make it easier to move around.

  Be patient and continue to eat small meals and complete physical tasks. After a few weeks, the recovery process will be complete.