Guide to Gutsy Living

The parent advisory council of ostomy advocacy group ImproveCareNow has released an online “toolkit” for pediatric and young-adult ostomates, named “A Guide to Gutsy Living.” It is available by clicking HERE.

In addition to a range of interesting bios penned by young ostomates, the toolkit provides guidance for new ostomates on how to answer seemingly simple questions like “How do I tell my friends about my ostomy?” and “Does having an ostomy make it harder to travel?” Answers are provided by the young ostomates who wrote their biographies in the booklet.

The guide also includes a space for taking personal notes and a glossary, which clarifies the distinction between a colostomy and a colectomy, among other points.

To view the guide, go to https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/about-your-ileostomy-closure-surgery-01.

For more information, email pac@improvecarenow.org.

*Disclaimer: Any health and wellness content presented is for general informational purposes only. Such content is not intended to replace or serve as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.