Colon Cancer ⑥

The earthworm in my belly button

It has been 7 months since my laparoscopic colon cancer surgery.
The scars on my stomach have become less noticeable, but...
there is an earthworm in my belly button.
A red, raised welt about 3 centimeters long.
When I showed a selfie of it to Chappy (ChatGPT),
it told me that applying scar tape would
make it flat...
However, I am very sensitive to tapes.
Even with Band-Aids, the edges get itchy and become inflamed.
Since my regular checkup was coming up, I decided that
it would be best to consult with my doctor.

May 2026

This is my second regular checkup.
I had a CT scan a week ago and came to hear the results.
“Doctor, the scar below my belly button has become a red, raised welt...
I’ll never wear a bikini again anyway, so it’s fine,
but when I take a bath and see this scar,
I feel so disappointed.”
“No, you might wear a bikini!
(Big laugh)
I’d love to do something about it, but
this has already become a keloid, so it’s a case for plastic surgery.”

I thought a keloid was a state where the skin was inflamed from something like a burn,
but I didn't know this kind of thing was also called a keloid.

“And, I’m sorry to say, but since the possibility of recurrence isn't zero for 2 years,
please be patient for 2 years.”
“Oh, if it recurs and I have to have laparoscopic surgery again,
I’d have to be cut open again, wouldn't I?”
“Exactly.”
I was very disappointed because I had hoped that today the doctor would give me some good medicine,
and that if I applied it, it would gradually become beautiful.

For now, there are no problems with my colon.
After the examination, I waited in the inner waiting room to discuss my next appointment.

The medical office staff member who was smiling behind the doctor during the examination spoke to me,
and we scheduled the next appointment.
The next appointment is in August. We talked about things like having blood drawn before the examination, but...

“Actually, my C-section scar also became a keloid,
and after I had my second child, I thought this was the last one, so I had it treated by plastic surgery.
When you see that scar yourself, you feel disappointed, don't you?
I thought I wouldn't wear a bikini anymore either (laughs),
but you want to make it beautiful for your own sake, right?”
she said kindly.
When I asked, “What do they do in plastic surgery?
Do they cut it again and have the plastic surgeon sew it back up?”
she told me,
“If you get a few steroid injections at plastic surgery,
the redness goes away and it becomes surprisingly unnoticeable.”

Two years is a long time.
I will continue to live with my red earthworm for a while longer.

Kiwifruit

I would like to talk a little bit like a nutritionist here.

Until now, I was quite regular, but
since I had my colon cut, I have become prone to constipation.
Since I am a professional, I tried various things like dietary therapy, hydration, and abdominal massage, but
the most effective thing was “kiwifruit”.

In the 2022 version of the [Chronic Constipation Clinical Practice Guidelines], kiwifruit and prunes are introduced as effective foods for constipation.
A 2023 joint study by New Zealand, Italy, and Japan also published a paper stating that 2 kiwifruits a day are effective for constipation.
It is said that the water-soluble dietary fiber abundantly contained in kiwi softens stool, and an enzyme called actinidin has a digestive-promoting effect.

However, 2 a day is a bit expensive to keep up every day.
But when my constipation is bad, I eat 2, and when my pace gets a little better, my bowel movements improve even with 1 a day, and although I don't eat them every day, my bowel movements have improved quite a bit.

Also, it doesn't feel like it has an effect immediately after eating it in the morning, so I eat it after dinner.
What I like is gold kiwi.

However, I think some people may have allergic symptoms to kiwi, so if your mouth tingles or your throat feels itchy after eating it, please stop eating it.

Also, since the fructose in fruit can easily turn into neutral fat, please eat about 200g of fruit (the size of 2 fists) per day as a guide.