> Hello I am waiting to go in for my operation I have rectal
> cancer and part of my colon and my anal canal will be take
> away. I have read that because some nerves are cut it is
> impossible to have an errection. Is this true?

Hi George!

I have an ileostomy - ie. I've had all of my colon, rectum and anus
removed, and don't have any problems charming the one-eyed trouser snake
out of his basket. ;-)

There is some risk during the operation of nerve damage to the areas
responsible for producing an erection, but it's not typical.

There's some more info which you may find useful here:
http://www.liversociety.org/html/ostomy_surgery.html

-- Dave