Appointments with a physician and a nurse before colon cancer surgery

Before the colon cancer operation, you will meet with the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nurse. You can also bring a loved one with you to your appointment.

Surgeon’s appointment

At the outpatient clinic appointment preceding your colon cancer surgery, you will meet with the surgeon, who will review your examination results with you and provide more information on your treatment plan. After your appointment with the surgeon, we will discuss matters related to your treatment in a multiprofessional treatment meeting.

Anesthesiologist’s appointment

The purpose of the appointment with the anesthesiologist is to devise an anesthesia regime suitable for you, meaning the general anesthesia and pain management. We will perform the surgery under general anesthesia, and we often also use epidural anesthesia to alleviate postoperative pain. The anesthesiologist will ensure that your state of health is sufficient in view of the operation and recovery.

We will also discuss postoperative pain management at the appointment and select a pain rating scale to use for assessing pain after the operation. Because nutrition is of great importance for recovery from surgery, we will also assess the risk of your malnutrition at this point.

Appointment with a nurse

After the appointments with the surgeon and anesthesiologist, you will meet with a nurse with whom you will discuss your treatment plan and who will give you instructions on how to prepare for surgery.

The nurse will go through with you the information on the preliminary information form and the supportive therapies: such as your medication, height, weight, blood pressure, use of compression stockings, and instructions related to anesthesia. You will receive instructions on how to prepare for surgery and possible bowel cleansing. The nurse will also give you information on postoperative recovery.

A multiprofessional treatment meeting will confirm the treatment form of colon cancer

After the surgeon’s appointment, your treatment will be discussed at a multiprofessional meeting attended by surgeons, radiologists, an oncologist and the coordinating nurse. We plan your treatment on the basis of the examinations performed. It will be confirmed at this treatment meeting whether surgery is the primary treatment option or whether you will be referred to the Department of Oncology for chemotherapy. If we make any changes to the plan, we will let you know.  

We will notify you of the surgery date well ahead of time, and you will be provided a more exact time when to arrive at the hospital on the business day preceding the day of the operation.