having it done by laprascope and worried and frightened  so any comments  or advice very gratefully recvd

Diverticulitis is inflammation of a diverticulum, which can result in phlegmon of the bowel wall, peritonitis, perforation, fistula, or abscess. The primary symptom is abdominal pain. Diagnosis is by CT scan. Treatment is with antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, or a 3rd-generation cephalosporin plus metronidazole) and occasionally surgery.

Possible Complications of diverticulitis:

    * Abscess formation

    * Perforation of the colon leading to peritonitis

    * Stricture or fistula formation

You have raised your question under cancer. I don't know whether your diverticulitis has developed into colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is extremely common. Symptoms include blood in the stool or change in bowel habits. Screening is with fecal occult blood testing. Diagnosis is by colonoscopy. Treatment is surgical resection and chemotherapy for nodal involvement.

Well if you had cancer my biggest concerns would be that it is more difficult for the doctor to determine if you had mets and their ability to get enough lymph nodes, but since you don’t have cancer I don’t know what worries or concerns you could have. This procedure takes less time than an open one, the recovery time is cut in half and it is far less invasive.