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An expert explores: Living with a stoma

After bowel cancer surgery, some people need to have a stoma — an opening on your stomach area (abdomen) where a section of bowel is brought out. Our recorded episode on Living with a stoma, explains what a stoma is and how it works, the digestive system and the different types of stoma (Ileostomy and Colostomy).

Adapting to life with a stoma can be challenging, our expert Melissa will cover common questions asked by people living with a stoma, including stoma reversal and accepting change, as well as sharing useful support services.

About the speaker

Melissa Holland - Lead CNS Stoma Care, Lewisham Hospital

Melissa has an extensive background as a nurse, with experience in medical and surgical nursing, including colorectal and urology. She has been working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in stoma care, with both adults and children, for 25 years. Now leading the stoma care service for Lewisham Hospital and local community at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, Melissa is passionate about learning from those with lived experience to develop her clinical practice.

A photo of Melissa smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black top which has a bow at the top. She is stood in an office and in the background there is a picture on the wall and a little cabinet with a plant and a glass jar on it.

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