Colostomy Care for Colorectal and Anal Cancer Patients

At first, having a colostomy may seem to change your ideas about yourself and how you should live. You may find yourself dealing with self-image issues and your own personal feelings about this big change in your life. You may feel you need to examine many aspects of your lifestyle such as your work, job, intimate relationships and other physical activities. Talking to a counselor or others who have colostomies can be very helpful in processing these major life changes. It takes time to adjust to having a colostomy. But most people with colostomies report that after an adjustment period their life returns to what they call "a new normal." They are able to go on living as they once did with minor modifications to lifestyle. Colostomy care is a skill you can learn. There are several factors that will influence your colostomy care.

Placement of the Stoma Along the Colon

Care for your colostomy depends on its placement along your colon because the consistency of stool depends on how much time your colon has had to process it. The longer the stool is in the colon the more fluid can be absorbed. Therefore, the further along your colon the stoma is the more solid and formed the stool will be.

Diet and Medication

To a certain extent you can manage the quality and the frequency of your stool or fecal output through the diet you choose and the medication prescribed by your health care team.

Learning your Body's Schedule

Most people with colostomiesfind that they need to learn how to manage odors and gases. Learning your body's schedule and which foods to avoid is an early step to becoming more comfortable with your colostomy and for controlling odors. Once you have learned how to manage odors and gases, they should be of no more concern to you than to most other people

Pouch Systems

Pouch systems for collecting the feces are often referred to as appliances. Selecting the right appliance and ostomy supplies is a personal decision. You may need to experiment with several pouching systems to find the one that fits your stoma and suits your body and your lifestyle.

Skin Care Around the Stoma

The skin around the stoma is called the peristomal skin. Caring for the skin in this area will make care of your colostomy easier and prevent skin problems.