What to Know When You Are Diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer

How long will I stay in the hospital after surgery?

Dr. Shroff: A patient with colon cancer that has not spread will typically have an operation to remove the cancer. The colon is removed, the cancerous portion is taken out and then the colon is reconnected. The patient will spend around three days in the hospital and three weeks recovering before they get back to their regular activities.

Patients who have surgery for rectal cancer typically spend three to five days in the hospital, and recovery is approximately four weeks.

How long will I go through cancer treatment?

Dr. Shroff: Depending on the regimen used, chemotherapy could last three to six months. And someone who is a candidate for non-operative treatment will need close monitoring for three years, the time when the cancer is most likely to come back.

For some patients, there is an additional layer of treatment called radiation therapy. Radiation could shrink the tumor and reduce the risk of it coming back. Usually, the radiation treatment for rectal cancer is Monday through Friday for just over five weeks.

Nancy: Usually, the time of cancer treatment for rectal cancer is, give or take, around nine months. Each patient is evaluated by the NAPRC multidisciplinary team and a precise plan of care is given for each patient based on their tumor size and other factors. It’s not a cookie-cutter plan, but based on the individual needs of the patient. 

What can I eat?

Nancy: When patients are initially being treated for rectal cancer with chemoradiation, we want them to be on a low-residue diet and then again after their surgery. The low residue diet makes it easier for the patient to digest the food and then be able to pass the stool with less discomfort or pain. The diet limits high-fiber foods, like whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts, seeds, raw or dried fruits and vegetables.

We generally recommend a balanced diet. Proteins like chicken and turkey. Fresh fruits, vegetables, soups, pudding and protein shakes. Because of chemotherapy side effects, some people get a bad taste in their mouth, so they don’t like to eat. We don’t want you to lose weight, so if it comes down to it, eat what you can eat! People say cancer feeds off sugar—that’s the biggest myth there ever was. If you can’t get anything down except a bowl of ice cream, go for it.

Hydration—drinking 64 oz. of water per day—is so important while you’re on chemo. Caffeine needs to be limited, and herbal tea is typically fine, but it should be cleared with your medical oncologist.

What can I do to have the best outcomes?

Samantha: Listen to your doctor and ask a lot of questions. There are no bad questions. Lean on your support system of friends and family. In the beginning, it’s a scary process as you’re going through treatment and you have new symptoms. 

If you’re the type to blame yourself, don’t. When I was diagnosed, I thought, “What did I do to cause this?” I now know cancer can happen to anybody. Cancer does not discriminate. 

My sons did well because they had watched my sister walk through cancer treatment and she was okay, so they believed I would be okay. We tried to keep things more positive for them. 

Dr. Clay: It is important, regardless of the treatment plan selected, for patients and families to maintain a positive attitude while going through the journey. Cancer treatment can be difficult and stressful, and a positive attitude can help patients have a better quality of life throughout treatment.

Nancy: So many things are coming into play and your life is changing. Just remember it’s not the rest of your life. It’s temporary. For a while, your life is going to be different. You’re going to be going to doctors more than ever before. It’s mentally taxing. I love the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. They have wonderful information and online support groups for patients, caregivers and family members. That’s really huge.

Should I limit my activity so I get more rest?

Nancy: Get the proper amount of rest, but you should also exercise. You need to be up and mobile to avoid muscle waste and blood clots or pneumonia. Walk at least 30 minutes a day. If you’re home and sedentary, walk at least 10 minutes a day. 

I’m overwhelmed. What do I say to family and friends when they offer to help?

Samantha: Psychologically, it’s quite a blow when you’re diagnosed. Everyone’s different in how they want to communicate their cancer to others and that’s okay. Some people want to be quiet. Some people want to tell the world. I went public because one, I believe in the power of prayer, and two, it’s important to be screened and I wanted to spread the word.

Accept help when it’s offered. It felt fragile at first but now I’m an old pro! As to what family and friends can do, ask them to be there to listen and provide comfort. To provide meals or give cards. I remember when the men in our small group from church came and got our yard ready for the season. Our small group also came and prayed for me. Allow people to be there, rally and support you and help you stay positive and hopeful. 

Nancy: Stop depending on yourself to do everything. You must depend on your network. Lean on family and friends so you have someone to talk to, to help with food and rides. I worked with a single man who had no family locally and didn’t know who would help him. Once he shared his diagnosis with his colleagues, he learned he had a safety net of people who loved him. They set up a meal train and transportation. And his sister came in from out of town to support him for several weeks. It was a huge lift to his heart, and he was filled with gratitude.

Life after colorectal cancer

Can I get cancer again?

Nancy: Unfortunately, cancer can come back. After treatment, it’s important to continue to follow up with your doctors as directed for what is called surveillance. That’s where you go back to your medical oncologist every three months for a year and it tapers down over time. They draw blood and do imaging to make sure everything’s fine. If the cancer does come back, it can be caught earlier through surveillance and treatment can start faster.

Will my bathroom habits change?

Dr. Shroff: Some patients may have a higher frequency of bowel movements after rectal cancer surgery, but that doesn’t happen to everybody. 

Do I need to change things about my lifestyle, like what I eat and which vitamins I take? 

Dr. Shroff: You’ll have to change your diet before surgery, such as adding amino acid shakes. You’ll continue that for a little while after surgery because it helps the body to heal better. Once recovered and on a regular diet, you’ll have no restrictions. You can get back to exercising and a normal diet that is rich in fiber and low in red meat. 

Dr. Clay: Patients should eat healthy diets that are high in fiber and low in red meat, if not already doing so, and should quit any tobacco use. Unfortunately, there is no specific vitamin or supplement that has been shown to cure colon cancer, despite what may be out there on social media channels. Following your doctor’s advice is key.

Face cancer with confidence
At Wellstar, people with colon cancer have highly coordinated and collaborative care—close to home. Our multidisciplinary team offers the most advanced diagnostics, treatments and clinical trials. If you’re looking for a cancer expert at Wellstar or need a second opinion, call 1 (877) 366-6032 or find a colorectal cancer specialist near you.


Encourage someone you love to get screened
Wellstar offers colorectal cancer screening to save lives. When physicians find pre-cancerous polyps during a colonoscopy, it prevents cancer from developing. Learn more about screening for colorectal cancer or schedule a screening.