See how rectal removal surgery works, a procedure performed by Preta Gil

Since 2023, Preta Gil has been sharing her fight against colorectal cancer. In an interview with Fantástico, which aired this Sunday, the 8th, the singer revealed that she underwent a rectal amputation procedure a year ago, in August 2023, as part of her treatment.

Preta Gil was diagnosed with colon (or colorectal) cancer in 2023 and has since undergone a series of treatments, including chemotherapy and rectal removal surgery. On her social media, Preta made it clear her intention to talk about her treatment openly and without taboos: “My diagnosis and all the consequences that come with it cannot be a taboo; I want to be able to talk and explain, because I know that, even today, information is still fragmented and not clear enough.”

_{Preta Gil talks about healing, in an interview for Fantástico (Photo: reproduction/Instagram/@pretagil)}

What is rectum removal surgery like?

The procedure permanently removes the rectum and anal canal, and in rare cases, it may also be necessary to remove the sphincter, the structure responsible for closing the anus. Another possibility in this surgery is that the anus is permanently closed and the patient may need to wear a colostomy bag, which allows the intestine to be emptied through the abdomen permanently. In Preta's case, the surgeons were able to perform the surgery while preserving her sphincter.

There are two types of cancer that may require this procedure: anal cancer and colorectal cancer. In an interview with G1, the coordinator of Coloproctology at the Sírio-Libanês Hospital in Brasília, Romulo Almeida, explained that this type of surgery can currently be performed in a minimally invasive manner. In this way, the surgery is performed using robotics or videolaparoscopy and only small incisions in the abdomen may be necessary.

In general, the procedure takes 2 to 3 hours and, according to Almeida for G1, the patient is expected to recover well. One of the most common complications, however, is Post-Resection Syndrome (LARS) which compromises the patient's quality of life as it affects the ability to control gas and stool.

Preta Gil's health status

Preta Gil is currently undergoing a new cycle of oncological treatments against recently discovered tumors. On her Instagram, the singer reports that she has been monitored and is still undergoing rehabilitation from the rectum removal surgery she underwent in 2023. She also reaffirms her hope for the new treatments she is undergoing.

Featured photo: Preta Gil uses her Instagram to share her struggle (Reproduction/Instagram/@pretagil)