Hello MAC,
Get your pen and writing pad ready and start getting questions and notes ready,
OK?

I"ve never had it and Dad was far away when he had his, only wrote and told
me/us after.
Dad was a partial paraplegic so perhaps he had less pain...but I expect they
will help with meds if your mother has any.
Dad had the open surgery (long cut through the muscle). Longer time under
anesthetic, which has it's risks, longer stay in hospital, longer recovery.
There's laparoscopic aka "key-hole" (probaby shorter time under anesthetic and
less time in hospital)  but here it says

http://www.jhbmc.jhu.edu/Surgery/gensurg/centers/ssat_coloncan.html
Operative treatment consists of wide surgical resection of the involved segment
of the bowel and its regional lymphatic drainage. Details vary with the location
of the primary tumor. Primary anastomosis is possible in elective cases with a
prepared bowel. In post-menopausal women, oophorectomy should be recommended
because of the combined risks of micro- metastases and primary ovarian cancer.

This one leans towards laproscopic http://www.sls.org/patientinfo/colon.html
(some of ) the risks are mentioned there

I think, regardless of what any poster tells you here about their surgery, it's
indvidual to each person.
After you get the CT results, discuss it with the surgeon what your mother can
expect, the known risks etc.
Maybe it's (partly) like real estate? location, location, location...and type of
surgery

I've had 3 surgeries in my life and have a high degree of confidence in surgeons
in Canada.
However, for colon surgery, I would take a sheet with me and have "pros" and
"cons" of each type of surgery listed.
Then listen carefully to what the surgeon says about his plans, your mother's
particular risks and ask questions  (and take notes).

There seems to be some concern about laproscopic
http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/health_news/160102cancer.html
"The question [being asked in these trials] is whether laparoscopy can be as
good an operation and be as effective in curing the patient [as open surgery]"

The other thing I would ask is if they can get a good view (and remove) as many
lymph nodes as they should with the laproscopic. And whether they can get a good
view of possible mets elsewhere (nearby).

Maybe Peter Moran would have some input if he's reading? I think what one of the
doctors said recently is that some of the newer surgeons aren't very experienced
with the open type of surgery because they may be doing (and/or trained) with
the laparoscopic type.  So if that's the case with your surgeon (I don't usually
believe in getting a 2nd opinion), but in this case, if he has a colleague who
is experienced in the open type of surgery, you may want to ask for a consult to
hear two views about it.  Of course, some depends on the urgency.  You don't
want to wait too long if she's starting to obstruct and/or not eating.

Hope this helps some.
I'm not an expert
J

J

Many years ago my wife contracted such a tumor, which was discovered by bloody
stools.  The surgeon would not even let her have time for her birthday which was
4 days off.  She was operated the next morning.  The surgeon approached me after
the operation, and told me that She had removed about a foot of colon from the
transverse colon, and that the cancer had not penetrated the colon wall.  She
then spent her time in recovery, and then at her room, I met her.  She saw me
and asked me if I had been there all the time, and I replied that no I wasn't
there, because I had gone out to spend the morning with hookers.  My wife then,
even in her drugged stupor looked at the aids and exclaimed "He cannot afford
them."  When her birthday did arrive, the family gathered and we went to the
Clinic (Cleveland) and had a party in her room.  We bribed the nurses staff with
birthday cake and everyone, especially my wife had a wonderful time.  No further
treatment was necessary.  However, she passed away suddenly in 1999 from
something somewhat related to a broken ankle.  Anyway, you asked if the surgery
was traumatic?  Well, while they were in the area, they repaired an umbilical
hernia, removed the appendix, and threw in a tummy tuck.  My wife spent a couple
extra days in the hospital, because of an infection, but she appeared to have no
pain at the recovery.  From my own experience a month ago, you will have
absolutely NO pain, at least until you wake up.  I did not have that much pain
from my kidney operation, and I have 2 weeks to go before they will consider my
healed..  Please, the one thing that got me through my time a month ago was half
of the town was praying for me, as well as many people I dealt with.  However,
in my case, I awoke to cheers and congratulations because, while I was asleep,
my daughter presented me with a granddaughter.  The recovery staff appeared
elated to give me the good news.  One other thing, I went under, and in my
personal perspective, I was under for only about 10 seconds.  I was awake (6
hours later) immediately.

I send my prayers, and hope that this problem has a successful end.

Grateful to be back.

Eddie