As a colon cancer patient, your nutritional requirements will evolve as you progress through the stages of diagnosis, therapy, and surgery. Your surgeon will prescribe a “low residue” eating plan after surgery. This eating plan is deficient in fiber. Your colon and rectum will have less work to do. Incorporate the following ideas into your diet: “white bread and white rice, not whole grain bread and brown rice,” and stay away from raw veggies, nuts, seeds, beans, pork, and fried foods. Following surgery, and with a doctor’s supervision, follow this short-term diet.
Treatment could make you feel nauseous or sick to your stomach. Some adverse effects, such as changes in taste or increased sensitivity to cold, can make it difficult to eat normally. Making sure you get enough nutrients and fighting off unhealthy weight loss are both crucial.
What to Eat After Surgery?
Seek advice from the hospital’s dietitians. Make sure to ask your nurse for a food restriction list before you leave the hospital.
Advice on What to Eat When You’re Craving Food
- Aim for smaller portions.
- You should consult a nurse if you feel too sick to eat. There might be medications that can help with nausea.
- If you want your body to function at its best, you must drink enough fluids, as a dangerous and possibly fatal adverse consequence of anti-cancer treatment is dehydration. Some suggestions for maintaining adequate hydration:
- Drink water before you’re even aware you’re thirsty.
- All day long, munch on ice chips and drink smoothies.
- Always have water on hand that is at room temperature.
- Incorporate items that are rich in water into your diet.
- Proper brain and nervous system function may be aided by consuming healthy fats, which also provide energy and decrease inflammation. Fish, nuts, seeds, avocados, and olive oil are some of the foods that contain healthy fats. These are better options than red meat, fast food, and dairy (cheese, butter, etc.). In general, healthy fats shouldn’t make up more than 25% of your caloric intake.
- When fighting colorectal cancer, vitamins are an important tool. There is some evidence that low vitamin D levels are connected with poor outcomes and may have an adverse effect on survival. We suggest supplements to patients who are lacking in certain nutrients. In addition to B complex, vitamins A and C are vital for the body’s capacity to recover from and tolerate colorectal cancer treatment.
Also Read: Tips to Prevent Colon Cancer
Why Should You Keep Your Weight Down While Getting Colon Cancer Treatment?
While it may be difficult for many cancer patients to stick to a nutritious diet while undergoing treatment, doing so has many advantages. You might get more energy and maybe even a stronger immune system, from it. You may be more likely to experience treatment-related adverse effects if you lose even a little weight. Furthermore, you may need to stop or postpone your therapy if you experience dangerously low weight while undergoing it.
Conversely, certain cancer patients may have treatment side effects and an increased risk of mortality due to obesity. Patients who are overweight are more likely to experience a return of colorectal cancer than those who maintain a healthy weight.
Conclusion
No matter what you’re doing for treatment, you should always feel comfortable asking questions and having someone on your care team check in with you to see how you’re doing nutritionally and overall. Any changes in your appetite or ability to keep food down, such as a sudden drop in weight, unexplained dizziness, vomiting, or other symptoms, should be reported.
Common cancer and treatment side effects, including their influence on hunger and nutrition, are well-known to our care team. Malnutrition and other nutrition-related issues are something we keep an eye out for in our patients. To assist patients in preventing and managing treatment-related side effects, we predict common ones and help them get ready for them. If you’re seeking specialized care like Colon Cancer Treatment in Ahmedabad, we’re here to provide comprehensive support tailored to your needs.