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I have found a great picture that clearly demonstrates what I have. I am a stage III. In stage III, cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, but it has not spread to other parts of the body. This is the surgery that I am having:

• Open surgery: The surgeon makes a large cut into your abdomen to remove the tumor and part of the healthy colon or rectum. Some nearby lymph nodes are also removed. The surgeon checks the rest of your intestine and your liver to see if the cancer has spread.

When a section of your colon or rectum is removed, the surgeon can usually reconnect the healthy parts. However, sometimes reconnection is not possible. In this case, the surgeon creates a new path for waste to leave your body. The surgeon makes an opening (stoma) in the wall of the abdomen, connects the upper end of the intestine to the stoma, and closes the other end. The operation to create the stoma is called a colostomy. A flat bag fits over the stoma to collect waste, and a special adhesive holds it in place. This is what we are hopping will not be my case.

For more info check out ccalliance.org This is one of the best sites I have found. We are still trying to raise funds. Thanks already for all those who have Chipped in. Anything that we do not use will be donated to a Colon Cancer charity.

Thanks!!!!!