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Diet After Colon Cancer Surgery
Your diet after colon cancer surgery is vitally important for you to follow exactly. You can injure yourself or slow down the healing process.
There are many types of colon surgery. The extent of surgery you have and how it affects your ability to eat impacts your nutrition.
It will take awhile for your digestion to settle down after colon surgery. You may need to avoid some foods permanently. Some foods can give you gas.
You'll have to work with a registered dietician and discuss any changes you would like to make to your diet before you start eating different foods.
After Colectomy or Colostomy
For 2 - 3 days after surgery you'll get your nutrition through an IV. This gives your colon time to heal.
When you begin to eat, you'll start out with broths and juices and food that is very easy to digest. Expect your diet after colon cancer surgery to change over time and carefully follow the advice given by your dietician.
You may have to limit the following foods temporarily:
- raw vegetables
- skin and peel of fruits
- dairy
- high-fiber grains
- beans and peas
- sweets
- fatty and fried foods
Some foods can reduce odors and fluid in the stool after a colostomy:
- yogurt
- cranberry juice
- toast
- sticky rice
- buttermilk
- applesauce
- bananas
- tapioca
Marinating meats, eating probiotics and chewing your foods very, very well can make digestion easier.
Low Residue Diet
The low residue diet is meant to give your colon time to heal. Your dietician needs to help you with this because not all low-fiber foods are low residue. You may need to take supplements because you won't be getting all the nutrients you need on a low residue diet. A low residue diet is often exactly opposite of a diet that prevents colon cancer. A low residue diet may include the following foods:
Grains (enriched and refined)
- arrowroot cookies
- bagels
- buns
- cereals
- english muffins
- pastas
- melba toast
- soda crackers
- tea biscuits
- white bread
Fruits
- fruit juices (except prune)
- applesauce
- apricots
- bananas
- cantaloupe
- fruit cocktail
- grapes
- honeydew
- peaches
- watermelon
- Avoid dried fruits such as prunes, dates, raisins and berries
Vegetables
"It will take awhile for your digestion to settle down after colon surgery."
- Avoid raw veggies
- Avoid veggies that create gas such as:
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- cabbage
- brussel sprouts
- kale
- swiss chard
- Drink vegetable juices
- Eat well-cooked potatoes without skin
- Eat very cooked and/or pureed veggies like:
- beets
- bell peppers
- carrots
- cucumbers (without seeds)
- eggplant
- green beans
- iceberg lettuce
- mushrooms
- squash
- zucchini
Proteins
- Limit meats
- Marinate meats with salt, soy, vinegar, citrus to break down fibers
- Eat thoroughly cooked and tender meats
- Eat fish
- Eat eggs
- Avoid beans, peas and lentils
- Avoid all nuts and seeds
Lactose Intolerance
After colon surgery, your ability to break down dairy may be temporarily or permanently changed. Gas, cramps and diarrhea are some of the symptoms. Your dietician can help you accommodate this into your diet after colon cancer surgery.
Eating to Prevent Recurrence
A recent study finds that people who eat a "Western diet" are three and a half times more likely to have colon cancer recur. There is a very significant link between diet and colon cancer.
A Western diet includes:
- lots of red meat
- meat from farms that use antibiotics, hormones and large amounts of corn and soy feed
- processed meats
- refined and processed grains
- refined sugar
- fried foods
If and as you can, you should begin to follow the recommended diet for general health and cancer prevention:
- High fiber foods
- 5 - 8 servings of fruits and vegetables
- 100% whole grain breads and pastas
- Dairy foods
- Nuts and seeds
- Fatty fish
- Fish oil
- Beans and peas
- Sea vegetables
- Garlic
- Cayenne and chili pepper
Your diet after colon cancer surgery may be different than what we have listed here. If so, please discuss it with your registered dietician.
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