The influence of colostomies on the personal and social lives of cancer patients.

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594922414103

• Palavras-chave: colostomy; cancer patients; health.

• Keywords: colostomy; cancer patients; health.

• Abstract:

  Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer in the world, in both sexes. Treatment for this neoplasm includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thus, surgical therapy consists of resection of the colon and rectum, and can be performed concomitantly with a stoma, which forms a communication between the intestine and the external abdominal environment. However, given the above, what is the impact of the colostomy on the quality of life of cancer patients?  The aim of this study was to assess this impact in all spheres of the patient's life. As a methodology, we used a theoretical framework compiled from recent databases in PubMed and Scielo, using the following keywords: colostomy; cancer patients; health. The results show that stomatized cancer patients are stigmatized by changes in their physical and emotional integrity, lowering their self-esteem and generating feelings of discredit in society. Therefore, the quality of life of these patients, which was already impaired by the cancer, is reduced after surgery, affecting interpersonal relationships. Thus, the loss of anal sphincter autonomy requires greater care in the handling of the collecting equipment and in the hygiene of the peristomal skin, as odor is common when eliminating flatus and feces through the colostomy bag. In addition, sexuality is altered due to the patient's depreciation of their own image and as a result of the colostomy, which can result in retrograde ejaculation, erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. Therefore, it can be concluded that after stoma surgery, changes in body image, socialization and sexuality compromise the quality of life and daily life of patients with colorectal cancer.