Yes, Adele Roberts, the well-known BBC presenter and former star of Big Brother, has a stoma bag following surgery for bowel cancer. While a "colostomy bag" is a specific type of stoma bag, the term "stoma bag" is a broader term that encompasses various types of ostomies.
Understanding Stoma Bags and Colostomy Bags
A stoma bag, also known as an ostomy bag, is a medical device used to collect waste products (stool or urine) from the body after a surgical procedure called an ostomy. During an ostomy, an opening (stoma) is created in the abdomen to divert the bowel or urinary tract.
A colostomy bag is a particular type of stoma bag. In a colostomy, a section of the large intestine (colon) is diverted through the stoma. This allows stool to exit the body through the stoma and collect in the bag attached to the abdomen.
Adele Roberts' Journey with a Stoma Bag
Adele Roberts publicly shared her experience after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. Her treatment involved surgery that resulted in her needing a stoma bag. She has openly discussed living with her stoma, whom she affectionately named "Audrey." Her candor has helped raise awareness and reduce stigma around ostomies and bowel cancer.
Living with a stoma bag requires adapting to new routines for managing waste collection and stoma care. This includes regularly emptying and changing the bag, maintaining skin hygiene around the stoma, and adjusting diet as needed. Many individuals with stomas lead full, active lives after recovery.
Types of Stoma Bags
It's important to understand that while a colostomy is one type, there are other common types of stoma bags depending on which part of the digestive or urinary system is diverted:
| Type of Stoma | Description | What it Diverts |
|---|---|---|
| Colostomy | An opening from the large intestine (colon) to the outside of the abdomen. Stool from the colon is collected. | Stool from the large intestine |
| Ileostomy | An opening from the small intestine (ileum) to the outside of the abdomen. Stool from the small intestine is collected. | Stool from the small intestine |
| Urostomy | An opening from the urinary tract to the outside of the abdomen. Urine is diverted and collected. | Urine |
Adele Roberts' journey highlights the reality for many who undergo life-saving surgery for conditions like bowel cancer, requiring them to live with a stoma. Her advocacy has been instrumental in normalizing conversations about ostomies.
