Desiree,

Briefly, I'm a senior guy who had a colostomy (permanent & unreversible in my
case) 14 years ago. I had cancer just inside my rectum, and under wise & strong
dr's advice, I went through occasional radiation sessions spread out over a
5-week period (I had been initially diagnosed with a "fair" sized growth that
the dr. said it was slow-growing). I never experienced nausea or any other ill
effects. The radiation was good and totally effective because a post-op biopsy
of the removed diseased colon portion along with complete removal of my rectum
showed that the radiation had intentionally killed the tissues immediately
around removed parts---so that nothing "bad" had been left. [Needless to say,
there was no alternative to my colostomy, if I wanted to continue living.]

Jon, Angelo,, & Kevin gave you some pretty good advice. I believe that if
radiation for your fiancee does not completely kill all the diseased areas---
and especially should cancer develop either inside or outside the intestinal
wall---then a colostomy may be needed. If the then-removed part of the colon is
not located too close to the rectum, then a reversal MIGHT be possible after a
suitable length of healing time.

Lifestyle: I have learned to limit, but not avoid, foods and drinks that
produce gas and hope that diahrea (sp?) does nor happen---although it happens!
There is absolutely no problem with taking showers or swimming! Intimacy can be
managed.

Lots of luck to you both.---Ken, from northern N.J.