The Cancer Surgery I Barely Remember
Cancer Surgery: Two Operations, Severe Anemia, Blood Transfusion and the Friend Who Helped Me Walk Again
The day of my first cancer surgery is mostly missing from my memory.
I do not remember which of my children drove me to the hospital.
I do not remember being admitted.
I do not remember much of the surgery or the two days I spent in the hospital afterward.
The memories I have are small pieces surrounded by blank spaces. Much of what I know about those days came from the people who were there, the medical information I received later, and the evidence left behind on my body.
I remember preparing for the surgery.
I remember arranging the house, buying furniture, planning meals, reviewing legal documents, and making sure my friend Glenda could pay my bills.
Then the day arrived.
After that, much of the experience became one long fade.
One of My Children Dropped Me Off
It was during COVID, so the hospital had strict visitor restrictions.
Whichever one of my children took me could not remain with me in the way family members normally might during a major cancer operation.
I was dropped off and entered the hospital without the usual waiting room full of people who loved me.
Glenda stayed at my house.
While I was having surgery, she continued cleaning, preparing the bed, organizing the couch, and making sure everything would be ready when I returned.
She was preparing for my recovery while the surgeons were working to give me the opportunity to have one.
The Surgeons Removed the Three Abdominal Tumors
The purpose of the operation was to remove the three large tumors in my abdomen.
They had grown to an enormous size without my knowing they were there. I had continued going to work and living my life while they occupied more and more space inside my body.
I had wanted them removed from the moment the MRI revealed them.
For weeks, the same thought had repeated in my mind:
“When are you going to take these things out of me?”
Now the surgery was finally happening.
Cancer surgery can be performed for different reasons, including removing a tumor, removing as much cancer as safely possible, obtaining tissue for diagnosis, reducing symptoms, or supporting other treatments. The role of surgery depends on the type and location of the cancer and whether it can be removed safely.
At that time, I was not thinking in those clinical terms.
I wanted the foreign bodies out of my abdomen.
I Was in the Hospital for About Two Days
I believe I remained in the hospital for approximately two days, but I do not remember the stay clearly.
Medication, anesthesia, pain, blood loss, exhaustion, and the stress of major surgery may all affect how a patient experiences and remembers the immediate recovery period. I cannot say which factor was responsible for my missing memories.
I only know that much of that time is gone.
The man I was dating tried to visit me. Because it was COVID, visitors were generally not allowed. At some point, the hospital permitted one visitor because the medical team was having serious difficulty with my blood levels and my overall condition.
Even that part of the story is clearer through what others told me than through my own memory.
My Blood Levels Became a Serious Problem
The abdominal incision was large.
The operation itself was significant.
Yet one of the greatest immediate threats to my recovery was not the incision.
It was my blood.
My iron-related levels and other blood measurements were extremely low. The medical team tried different ways to address the problem, but I had reactions and difficulty tolerating what they attempted.
I do not remember exactly which iron treatments were tried or the details of every reaction.
Those facts should eventually be confirmed through my hospital and oncology records.
What I do know is that the doctors were concerned.
They sent me home looking, according to the people around me, almost as though I were already dead.
I was as white as a ghost.
I Was Sent Home With Injections
After leaving the hospital, I had to receive injections for several days.
I do not remember the name of the medication or the exact reason for those shots.
It would be irresponsible to guess whether they were related to blood-clot prevention, blood-cell production, another postoperative concern, or something else.
The records will tell us later.
This is an important part of telling a medical story honestly.
A patient may remember the needle and the routine without remembering the name printed on the prescription.
When I prepare the final medical version of this story, I want to review the discharge documents and identify the injections accurately.
Then the Doctors Scheduled a Blood Transfusion
Despite the earlier treatment attempts, my blood levels remained low enough that the medical team scheduled a transfusion.
A red blood cell transfusion gives donated red blood cells through a vein. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body.
Transfusions may be used when anemia is severe or symptomatic, when there has been significant blood loss, or in other medical circumstances.
A transfusion is not simply “getting more iron.”
It provides red blood cells that can improve the blood's ability to carry oxygen. The underlying cause of the anemia may still require additional evaluation and treatment.
At the time, I did not need a detailed scientific explanation.
I needed enough healthy blood circulating through my body to help me recover and qualify for the next surgery.
I Remember Only Pieces of the First Two Weeks
The first couple of weeks after the abdominal surgery remain mostly blurred.
I remember brief scenes.
I remember needing help getting into and out of the shower.
I remember Glenda helping me move between the couch, the sleeping area, and the bathroom.
I remember that I was supposed to walk every two hours.
I remember feeling weak.
I do not remember the complete days.
Recovery did not feel like a smooth story with a beginning, middle, and end.
It felt like waking up inside scattered moments.
Glenda Helped Me Shower
Before surgery, showering had been an ordinary private activity.
After surgery, I could not safely get into and out of the shower alone.
I had a large abdominal incision. I was extremely weak, and my blood levels were poor. A fall could have created another emergency.
Glenda helped me.
She helped me enter the shower.
She helped me get out.
She helped me protect my dignity while also making sure I did not hurt myself.
Caregiving often happens in these quiet moments that no one sees.
It is not always driving to chemotherapy or sitting beside a hospital bed.
Sometimes it is holding someone steady in the bathroom because that person no longer has the strength to trust her own legs.
She Helped Me Move From the Couch
The furniture we had bought before surgery became part of my recovery.
I could not simply stand up, walk across the room, or move into bed without help.
Glenda helped me change positions.
She helped me sit.
She helped me stand.
She helped me lie down.
She helped me rise again when it was time to walk.
All the preparation we had done before surgery suddenly had a purpose.
The couch was not merely furniture.
The adjustable table was not merely convenient.
The pillows, snacks, bedding, and supplies were not excessive preparations.
They were tools that allowed me to recover at home.
I Was Supposed to Walk Every Two Hours
My medical team wanted me to move regularly.
I was far too weak to walk any meaningful distance, so Glenda had me walk around the couch.
That was enough.
One slow trip around the furniture became my exercise.
Walking after surgery is often encouraged because movement can support circulation, breathing, bowel function, and strength and may help reduce certain postoperative complications. The amount and timing, however, should follow the individual surgeon's instructions.
The goal was not to prove that I was strong.
The goal was to keep my body moving safely.
Some days, surviving begins with walking once around the couch.
I Was Healing From a Large Abdominal Incision
The abdominal operation left me with a large incision across my stomach.
I sometimes described it as a giant gash because that was what it looked and felt like to me.
The incision required careful attention.
There were rules about:
When and how it could be cleaned
What could touch it
How it should be covered
Which changes needed to be reported
How much I could bend or lift
How to move without pulling on it
There was also a pump attached to the wound area.
Based on my memory, it may have been a negative-pressure wound therapy device, sometimes called a wound VAC. I want to confirm that through my operative and discharge records before stating it as fact.
Negative-pressure wound therapy uses a sealed dressing connected to a pump. The pump applies controlled suction to the wound and may help remove fluid and support healing in selected wounds.
Whatever its exact name, the device added another layer of care to an already difficult recovery.
Wound Care Was Not Simple
The incision could not be treated like an ordinary cut.
A major surgical wound must be monitored for problems such as:
Increasing redness
Swelling
Warmth
Drainage
Bleeding
Separation of the wound edges
Worsening pain
Fever
Odor
Problems with a wound pump or dressing
I had to follow the instructions I was given rather than cleaning it according to what seemed reasonable to me.
Too much cleaning, the wrong product, pulling at the dressing, or allowing the area to remain wet could create problems.
Caregivers also needed to know what was normal and what required a call to the surgeon.
The Blood Problem Felt Worse Than the Incision
The incision was dramatic.
It was large, visible, and painful.
But the anemia and low blood levels affected my entire body.
Anemia means the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells or enough hemoglobin to carry oxygen effectively. Depending on its cause and severity, anemia can cause weakness, exhaustion, dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, a rapid heartbeat, and pale skin.
My weakness was not simply a lack of determination.
My blood could not support my body normally.
That is why encouragement alone was not enough.
I needed medical treatment, monitoring, food, rest, and help.
I Ate Liver and Onions Because I Wanted to Live
After the transfusion, nutrition remained part of the plan.
Glenda loved liver and onions.
I did not.
But liver is a source of dietary iron, and my blood levels were still a major concern.
So I ate it.
I was not pretending to enjoy it.
I ate it because I wanted to recover.
I ate it because another surgery was approaching.
I ate it because my body needed support, and I wanted to live more than I wanted to avoid a meal I disliked.
Food alone cannot rapidly correct every form of severe anemia.
Some patients need iron supplements, intravenous treatment, medication, transfusions, or treatment of the underlying cause. Iron should not be taken simply because someone has anemia; anemia has many causes, and iron treatment is appropriate when iron deficiency or another indication has been established.
My high-iron eating plan was one part of care, not a replacement for medical treatment.
Iron Became Part of My Long-Term Monitoring
The blood problem did not end when the transfusion was completed.
From that point forward, my iron and related blood levels required continued attention.
My blood was checked repeatedly at the cancer center.
Even today, those measurements are still monitored.
I take supplements according to my current medical plan.
The blood tests used to monitor anemia may include a complete blood count and, when appropriate, iron studies such as ferritin, serum iron, transferrin, or total iron-binding capacity.
The exact tests used in my case should be confirmed through my medical records.
The appropriate tests and treatment depend on the suspected cause of the anemia.
A hemoglobin test may be used to evaluate anemia, monitor recovery after blood loss, and follow treatment.
That ongoing monitoring became part of the chronic illness that followed cancer treatment.
I Had Another Surgery Coming
The abdominal operation was not the end of the surgical plan.
The tumor on my back still needed to be removed.
That operation was scheduled for approximately two weeks after the abdominal surgery.
I had barely begun healing.
I had received a transfusion.
My strength was limited.
My incision still required care.
Yet the cancer did not allow me the luxury of waiting until I felt completely normal.
The medical team had to decide whether my blood levels and overall condition were stable enough for another operation.
A few days before the back surgery, I returned for medical evaluation.
The doctors continued monitoring the incision, the wound device, my blood, and my recovery.
Eventually, my levels improved enough for the second surgery to go forward.
Glenda Went Home Shortly Before the Back Surgery
Glenda had remained with me through the most fragile part of the abdominal recovery.
She cleaned.
She fed me.
She helped me shower.
She helped me stand.
She walked me around the couch.
She made sure I took another few steps when I probably wanted to remain still.
She watched my skin color, weakness, eating, and ability to function.
Then she returned to Florida shortly before the second operation.
By that point, she had helped carry me through the first stage.
The next stage would require another surgeon, another wound, and another recovery.
The Back Surgery Happened About Two Weeks Later
I went into the second surgery while still recovering from the first.
The surgeon removed the leiomyosarcoma tumor from my back.
My body now had surgical wounds in both the front and the back.
Before the first operation, I had wondered how I would sleep after having surgery in both places.
Now that question was no longer theoretical.
I had to find positions that did not place too much pressure on either wound.
I had to continue moving.
I had to keep eating.
I had to protect both surgical areas.
I had to prepare for chemotherapy.
Then I Still Needed the Port Procedure
After two cancer operations, I had another procedure ahead.
The chemotherapy port needed to be placed.
The scheduling became extremely tight.
The port was inserted only a day or two before my first chemotherapy treatment.
Because the area had not healed enough, the oncology team said the port was not ready to be used for that first treatment.
That meant my first chemotherapy had to be given through another type of IV access.
The port existed, but it could not yet serve the purpose for which it had been implanted.
Cancer treatment rarely follows the clean timeline printed on the first plan.
Recovery, blood levels, wound healing, scheduling, and safety can change how each step happens.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
I wish someone had told me that I might not remember the hospital stay clearly.
I wish someone had encouraged my family to write down what happened each day.
I wish I had known to preserve the names of every injection, blood product, wound device, and medication.
I wish someone had explained that severe anemia could make recovery feel worse than the incision itself.
I wish someone had told me that eating iron-rich foods could support recovery but could not replace the transfusion or other medical treatment I needed.
I wish someone had explained how important the caregiver's observations would become when my own memory failed.
Most of all, I wish someone had told me that not remembering the fight did not mean I had not fought.
My body fought while my mind recorded very little of it.
When the Patient Cannot Tell the Story
Medical stories are not always preserved through the patient's memories.
Sometimes the patient is unconscious.
Sometimes medication creates confusion.
Sometimes pain and illness interrupt memory.
Sometimes the patient remembers only brief images.
In those situations, the story may need to be rebuilt from:
Operative reports
Hospital discharge summaries
Medication lists
Pathology reports
Laboratory results
Nursing notes
Appointment summaries
Patient-portal messages
Photographs
Caregiver notes
Family recollections
Those sources do not replace personal memory.
They help support it.
Before publishing the most medically detailed version of this article, I will need to review my records so I can accurately name the procedures, injections, transfusion timing, blood measurements, and wound device.
A Caregiver Record Can Protect the Patient's Story
A caregiver can keep a simple daily record containing:
Date and time
Medication given
Temperature
Pain level
Food and fluids
Bowel movements
Walking
Wound appearance
Drain or pump output
Symptoms
Calls to the medical team
Instructions received
Follow-up appointments
Questions for the doctor
This record can help the healthcare team and later help the patient understand what happened during a period she cannot remember.
The notes do not need to be written like a medical chart.
They need to be accurate enough to answer practical questions.
Questions to Ask Before Leaving the Hospital
The patient or caregiver should understand:
What operations were performed?
What tumors or tissues were removed?
Was there significant blood loss?
What were the latest hemoglobin and hematocrit levels?
Why are injections being prescribed?
What is the name of each medication?
How long should each medication be taken?
Is a blood transfusion planned?
How should the incision be cared for?
What is the wound pump called?
What should we do if the pump alarms?
When can the patient shower?
How often should the patient walk?
What lifting restrictions apply?
What temperature requires a call?
What symptoms require emergency care?
When is the follow-up visit?
What must improve before the next surgery?
Ask for written instructions.
Do not rely on the patient to remember everything immediately after anesthesia and major surgery.
When to Call About Anemia Symptoms
A person recovering from surgery should follow the surgeon's instructions and seek prompt medical guidance for concerning symptoms such as:
Severe weakness
Fainting or near fainting
Chest pain
New or worsening shortness of breath
A racing heartbeat
Confusion
Increasing paleness
Heavy or ongoing bleeding
Dizziness that makes walking unsafe
Inability to eat or drink
Worsening symptoms after discharge
Anemia has many possible causes and can range from mild to life-threatening. Treatment depends on the cause and severity.
Food Sources of Iron
Patients who are advised to increase dietary iron may discuss foods such as:
Liver and other organ meats
Beef and other meats
Poultry
Seafood
Beans
Lentils
Iron-fortified cereals
Dark leafy vegetables
Tofu
Nuts and seeds
Dried fruit
Iron from animal foods and plant foods is absorbed differently.
Vitamin C-containing foods may help the body absorb non-heme iron from plant sources. Some foods, medications, and digestive conditions can reduce absorption.
A registered dietitian or healthcare professional can help create a plan that also considers cancer treatment, kidney function, digestion, diabetes, medications, and other needs.
Hope for Today
I do not remember much of the operation that removed the three large tumors.
I do not remember which child took me.
I do not remember every hospital conversation.
I do not remember the first two weeks as complete days.
I remember pieces.
Glenda helping me into the shower.
Walking around the couch.
The large incision.
The wound pump.
Being pale.
Eating liver and onions even though I did not like them.
Preparing for another surgery before I had recovered from the first.
The blank spaces do not make the story less real.
They show how sick I was.
My body had undergone major cancer surgery, severe blood problems, a transfusion, and another operation within a short period.
I made it through.
The iron problem became a long-term issue that still requires monitoring.
But I am alive.
Sometimes survival is not a memory of being brave.
Sometimes it is learning afterward how many people held you up when you could not stand on your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal not to remember the days around major surgery?
Some patients have incomplete memories related to anesthesia, medication, sleep disruption, illness, pain, or postoperative confusion. New or persistent confusion should always be reported to the medical team.
Can surgery cause anemia?
Blood loss during or after surgery can lower red blood cells and hemoglobin. Other factors, including cancer, inflammation, nutrition, medications, or existing blood conditions, may also contribute.
What does a blood transfusion do?
A red blood cell transfusion provides donated red blood cells containing hemoglobin and can improve the blood's ability to carry oxygen. It may be used for significant blood loss or severe or symptomatic anemia, depending on the clinical situation.
Does eating liver cure severe anemia?
No. Iron-rich food may support nutrition when iron deficiency is present, but severe anemia may require supplements, intravenous treatment, medication, transfusion, or treatment of another underlying cause.
Should every patient with anemia take iron?
No. Anemia has many causes. Iron supplements should generally be used when a healthcare professional determines that they are appropriate.
Why are patients encouraged to walk after surgery?
Safe movement may support circulation, lung function, bowel activity, and strength and may reduce certain postoperative risks. Patients should follow their surgeon's instructions and use assistance when they are weak or at risk of falling.
What is a surgical wound pump?
Some surgical wounds are treated with negative-pressure wound therapy, which uses a sealed dressing and a pump to apply controlled suction. The exact device and instructions should be confirmed with the surgical team.
Why could a newly placed port not be used immediately?
The oncology team may decide that a new port should not be accessed until the site has had enough time to heal or until its position and function have been confirmed. The timing varies according to the procedure and medical plan.
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References
National Cancer Institute. “Surgery to Treat Cancer.”https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/surgery
National Cancer Institute. “Anemia: Cancer Treatment Side Effect.”https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/anemia
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “Anemia: Treatment and Management.”https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/treatment
MedlinePlus. “Blood Transfusion and Donation.”https://medlineplus.gov/bloodtransfusionanddonation.html
National Cancer Institute. “Fatigue and Cancer.”https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/fatigue
National Cancer Institute. “Nutrition During Cancer Treatment.”https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/nutrition
National Cancer Institute. “Ways to Add Protein to Your Diet.”https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/nutrition/add-protein
National Cancer Institute. “Nutrition in Cancer Care (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version.”https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/appetite-loss/nutrition-hp-pdq
Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Vacuum-Assisted Closure of a Wound.”https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/vacuumassisted-closure-of-a-wound
MedlinePlus. “Hemoglobin Test.”https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/hemoglobin-test/
MedlinePlus. “Hematocrit Test.”https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/hematocrit-test/
MedlinePlus. “Epoetin Alfa, Injection.”https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a692034.html
American Cancer Society. “Recovering From Cancer Surgery.”https://www.cancer.org/cancer/treatment-types/surgery/recovering-from-cancer-surgery.html
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. “Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Blood Clots.”https://www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/prevention/disease/bloodclots.html
About the Author:
Deborah Ann Martin is the founder of Surviving Life Lessons, a published author, poet, speaker, and trainer with over 20 years of management experience across multiple industries. An MBA graduate, U.S. veteran, single mother, and rare cancer survivor, Deborah brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her writing on resilience, leadership, personal growth, and overcoming adversity. Her mission is to empower others with practical wisdom and real-life insight to navigate life’s challenges with strength and purpose.
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