Choosing Confidence and Living Fully After Stoma Surgery

Sapuran faced bowel cancer and made the courageous decision to have permanent stoma surgery. With determination and support from his family, workplace, and a local group, he embraced recovery and returned to the activities he loves.

Read Sapuran’s inspiring story and learn how life after ostomy surgery can be full, joyful, and empowering.

In early 2023, Sapuran was making frequent trips to the bathroom and had a nagging sense that something wasn't quite right. Encouraged by his children, he sought medical advice. He underwent tests and scans that confirmed a diagnosis of bowel cancer. 

Determined to face surgery in the best possible shape, he spent three weeks exercising daily, building strength, and gaining weight to prepare his body for what lay ahead. 

Making a decision: temporary versus permanent ostomy 

Then came the hardest conversation. The surgeon explained that Sapuran had two options: temporary or permanent stoma surgery. After a long discussion, Sapuran made a bold choice. He opted for a permanent stoma because it offered him more peace of mind that the surgeon could remove all of the cancer and that it wouldn't return. “One surgery, less waiting, and a faster path to recovery," says Sapuran. It was a decision based on practicality and courage. 

The surgery went well and Sapuran approached his recovery with determination. He followed his medical team’s post-surgery instructions carefully, avoided heavy lifting for six months, and gave his body the time it needed to heal. His workplace was very supportive, offering reassurance and allowing him to work from home and return to the office when the time was right. “They just said, 'Do what you need to do and come back when you're ready,'” says Sapuran. “That meant a lot." 

Choosing to look forward, not backward 

Not surprisingly, a lot went through Sapuran’s mind before and after his ostomy surgery. “The shock hits you first, and I asked myself – why me? what did I do wrong?” he admitted. “But I didn't let those thoughts linger. I accepted the situation. It is what it is. You just get on with it." 

Rather than retreating, Sapuran chose to be confident and embrace his new way of life. He read every piece of advice from his clinicians, and their guidance helped him reintegrate smoothly and stay positive. One nurse introduced him to Inside Out, a UK-based international support group for ostomates and their families, where he found connection and understanding. “Talking to people who've been through the same thing, it's different – they get it,” says Sapuran. “Family cares, of course, but sometimes they forget. At the support group, you're never forgotten." 

Returning to a full, active lifestyle 

As Sapuran’s strength returned, so did his passions. He went back to gardening, nurturing fig trees, and sharing cuttings with family. He began travelling again, first to Greece then Turkey, enjoying walks, swimming, and soaking up the sun.  Music also played a big part in Sapuran’s recovery. He started going to reggae concerts again, and his love for 70s music shines through his vinyl record collection.

Sapuran is now back at work full-time. Outside of his day‑to‑day routine, he stays actively involved in his community. Over the weekends, he’s part of the team at Smokey Friday’s Exclusive, a local Jamaican restaurant where he loves welcoming guests and sharing great food, music, and conversation. It’s become a place where he can express his energy and joy, and where people naturally open up to him.

Sapuran is always happy to chat with anyone who may be coming to terms with life after stoma surgery. He knows how powerful it can be to talk to someone who truly understands, and he warmly offers support to anyone who needs it – whether it’s a friendly meet‑up at the restaurant or simply a reassuring conversation.

Focusing on peristomal skin health

Today, Sapuran is living his life to the fullest. The stoma? It's just part of him now. But he makes a special effort to take good care of it. “I look after my stoma first, that comes before anything else,” he says. “If I keep the skin around my stoma healthy, everything else falls into place and I can do everything I used to do.” Sapuran uses a Dansac NovaLife TRE™ Black pouch. It features a skin barrier that’s designed to help stop leakage and keep peristomal skin naturally healthy. 

Sapuran’s self-care tips for people with ostomies 

Sapuran hopes that others facing stoma surgery can learn from his experience. To that end, he’s compiled a short list of helpful hints: 

• Take recovery at your own pace
• Don't skip support group meetings – they are a lifeline
• Find joy in small things, such as gardening, music, and holidays
• Look after the skin around your stoma first, everything else follows
• Accept help, but trust yourself too

Sapuran's journey hasn't been easy, but it's been one of acceptance, and quiet strength. And through it all, he's found a new rhythm, a pace that is just right and works for him. “If you're having stoma surgery, please remember that life doesn't end,” he says. “It changes, but it can still be full, joyful, and yours – I’m living proof!"