Before your operation for bowel cancer
This page is about what happens before you have an operation for bowel cancer. There is information about
Preparing your bowel
You may be asked to follow a special diet for a few days before your surgery to reduce the amount of stool in the bowel. You may also have a laxative to take each day for two or three days to empty the bowel and reduce the chance of infection.
Preventing infection
To help stop infection after surgery you will probably be given antibiotics before the operation. You may have the antibiotics as an injection or as tablets.
Preventing blood clots
When you are in bed after an operation, you are more likely to develop blood clots. This is partly because you are not moving around very much. To stop blood clots forming, you may have injections of heparin, tinzaparin, or dalteparin before the surgery and for a couple of weeks afterwards. These drugs stop the blood from clotting so easily. You usually have them as a small injection under the skin. You may need to have blood tests to check your blood clotting times.
You may be asked to follow a special diet for a few days before your surgery to reduce the amount of stool in the bowel. You may also have a laxative to take each day for two or three days to empty the bowel and reduce the chance of infection. In some hospitals you will also have enemas or a bowel washout to empty the bowel completely.
To help stop infection after surgery you will be given antibiotics before the operation. You may have the antibiotics as an injection or as tablets.
When you are in bed after an operation, you are more likely to develop blood clots. This is partly because you are not moving around very much. To stop blood clots forming, you may have injections of heparin, tinzaparin, or dalteparin before the surgery and for a couple of weeks afterwards. These drugs stop the blood from clotting so easily. You usually have them as a small injection under the skin. You may need to have blood tests to check your blood clotting times. Your nurse or physiotherapist will also show you leg exercises that you can do after the surgery to lower the risk of blood clots. You may also be given compression stockings to wear.
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