Surgery in June: chance of a better life?

** Please help me fight cancer now: click the link to find out more: **
www.MatthewDons.org
Major surgery to reconnect my intestines. This is the first step of reversing my colostomy.

[@grizellda2540]

You look so well! I so hope everything goes to plan. Thank you so much for the update - and the detail! I'm glad the healthcare in Japan is so advanced - good luck!

[@willjones7830]

Appreciate this update, you are an inspiration to us all and I pray this surgery goes well. Keep well and I look forward to hearing from you again soon!

[@KaraMoon]

Hi Will, thank you so much for your support and interest.

[@KaraMoon]

I'm doing a live Q&A on Sunday (20th June) It would be wonderful if you could join:
www.eventbrite.com/e/ask-me-anything-5-years-of-treatment-for-terminal-colon-cancer-in-japan-tickets-159548699455

[@vickery8205]

Great update and you are looking so good! When I had a huge bowel resection a few years back, the doctors put in an epidural that stayed in place the whole 6 weeks of my hospital stay. This was a life saver for pain control, as they used Dilaudid in the epidural, not in my veins. It might be something to talk to your surgeon about. Lots of prayers and good luck with your surgery. Sounds like you are in excellent hands.

[@KaraMoon]

Thank you Vicky, that's good to know. I'll definitely ask the surgeon if I can have an epidural, and keep it in for a long time.
I had an epidural for the two previous surgeries. After my liver surgery the epidural was removed quickly, which is standard, I think. I may not be able to have an epidural this time because of my low platelet count. Having an epidural with low platelets can cause a spinal epidural hematoma, which is very dangerous.