Ostomates: You're not unique

BY LES WATKINS

More than 5400 New Zealanders have a problem which also struck international celebrities such as the late Queen Mother and former United States president Dwight Eisenhower.

That’s roughly one in every 760. And each year they are joined by an additional estimated 50 or so from the Hibiscus Coast and about 200 from the North Shore.

All are ostomates who have undergone surgery which many are too embarrassed to mention even to close friends.

Their embarrassment also prevents many from seeking the emotional or physical help they may really need.

Ostomy is surgery, usually necessitated by bowel cancer, that creates an artificial opening for the elimination of bodily wastes.

It is performed on patients of all ages, from newly-born babies to centenarians, but most are in the older age group.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, for instance, who died in 2002 at the age of 101, was in her 80s when she had her colostomy.

"Many patients have terrible emotional struggles after surgery," says Tony Stanaway of Browns Bay.

"I know I did and I just had to battle through."

Now, as secretary of the North Harbour Ostomy Society, he is part of a team helping others through similar struggles.

"Fifty years or so ago people were reluctant to talk openly about cancer," he says. "It was rarely mentioned on radio or in newspapers and, unfortunately, that is still much the same with ostomy operations.

"However, over the past few decades the medical profession has made tremendous advances in this field.

"Modern appliances are very user-friendly and easy to live with but, even so, some people do experience problems which they’re too embarrassed to discuss.

"When you become an ostomate it’s perfectly natural to feel you’re unique, but that’s not the case.

"The truth is summed up by our society’s motto: You are not alone."

Tony Stanaway can be contacted on (09) 479-6870. Others ready to help include ostomate society president David on (09) 445-2100, or coordinator Eleanor on (09) 480-9364.

Key facts:

• OSTOMATES: One in 760 New Zealanders
• North SHORE: 200 new cases each year
• HIBISCUS COAST: 50 new cases a year
• PERFORMED ON: Infants to 100-year-olds
• MAJORITY OF PATIENTS: Older age group.

- © Fairfax NZ News