What should I know about stomas?

ACS Answer

A stoma is a surgically created opening in the body that replaces a normal opening. It is needed when the normal opening is blocked by a tumor or has been removed as part of cancer treatment. Stomas serve as alternative sites for bodily functions.

There are different types of stomas. Three common stomas seen in people with cancer are a colostomy in the colon; a tracheostomy in the trachea or airway; and a urostomy in the bladder or urinary system.

What to do

Tracheostomy

• Use a pen and paper for communicating.
• Clean tracheostomy tube daily as ordered by nurse or doctor.
• Keep tracheal dilator, or a curved hemostat, at bedside at all times.
• Suction the tube as needed or as directed by nurse or doctor.
• Be careful not to get water in the stoma while bathing.
• Wear a scarf or shirt that covers the opening but is made of material (such as cotton) that allows air to get through.

Urostomy and colostomy

• Wash skin gently every day with warm water only. (You may see a small amount of blood while cleansing. That is OK.)
• Gently pat dry or allow to air dry.
• Showers or baths can be taken with the pouch on or off.
• Apply barriers, borders, or pastes to skin surrounding stoma before attaching pouch.
• Empty pouch when it is one-third full.
• Change colostomy pouch before there is leakage, preferably not more than once a day and not less than once every 3 or 4 days.
• Change urostomy pouch every 3-5 days.
• Irrigate stoma as ordered by a nurse or doctor.

Related Resources

Special aspects of some cancer treatments for men and women.

Find books that cover this and other cancer topics at the American Cancer Society bookstore.

Recommended Consultation

You should consider discussing this question with your doctor or health care team.

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