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Diet and Colon Cancer
Your diet and colon cancer treatment are so very important to your health. Your diet after colon cancer surgery should be designed to prevent recurrence. Your doctor will recommend a special diet and may refer you to a registered dietitian. For those with advanced colon cancer, eating right is necessary to keep up energy, mood and quality of life.
Diet and colon cancer is mostly about adapting what and how you eat to manage symptoms like:
- pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- bloating
- taste changes
- nausea
- inability to swallow
- depression and anxiety
- fatigue
Some people believe that food should be eaten only for enjoyment in these stages. Studies show, however, that malnutrition is associated with poor quality of life in people suffering advanced colon cancer.
Many people living with advanced colon cancer are distressed. A research study at McGill University found that the highest levels of distress are linked with the poorest nutrition.
A diet that prevents malnutrition will increase quality of life. You just need to seriously manage your diet and colon cancer therapy will go much easier for you.
Your diet plan must be very individualized. Food should be enjoyable but care must be taken so that:
- bowel obstruction and discomfort don't occur
- malnutrition doesn't occur
- the best energy and mood levels are maintained
Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition
For people who have trouble taking in food, enteral or parenteral support may be ordered by your doctor. Enteral nutrition involves a feeding tube. Parenteral nutrition is done intravenously.
There are serious complications and risks involved with both of these methods that you should discuss with your doctor. It's best to ask first:
- Will it improve quality of life? Alertness? Mood?
- Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
- Will it be a comfort to the family?
- Will it create more burden for a caregiver?
- What are the patient's wishes?
Fighting Off Fatigue
Diet and colon cancer can impact fatigue. The constant tiredness that can accompany advanced colon cancer can be very distressing. Rest doesn't relieve it and the lack of energy keeps you from doing the things you want to. It can also affect your ability to eat. There are many things you can do to manage fatigue but nutritionally speaking:
- Follow an eating routine
- Eat a balanced diet
- Keep a food log to measure how foods affect your energy
- Get help to keep your nausea, diarrhea and other factors under control
- Drink plenty of water
Battling Nausea
"For those with advanced colon cancer, eating right is necessary to keep up energy, mood and quality of life."
- Eat many small meals rather than fewer big meals
- Don't drink liquids with meals
- Eat and drink slowly
- Avoid fried and fatty foods
- Keep crackers or cereal by your bed to nibble on
- Suck on candies or ice cubes
- Avoid strong odors
- Don't lie down immediately after eating
- Wear loose clothing
Methods to Relieve Diarrhea
- Eat small amounts more often
- Avoid high-fiber foods
- Avoid coffee, tea and alcohol
- Avoid greasy and fried foods
- Avoid milk and dairy if it seems to aggravate the diarrhea
- Eat bananas, oranges, potatoes, peaches and apricots
- Drink lots of fluids: juices, water, sports drinks with electrolytes, broths, ginger ale
Ways to Combat Constipation
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Drink more hot fluids
- Eat high-fiber foods
Ways to Increase Appetite
- Eat small meals and snacks throughout the day
- Try new foods
- Change your mealtime routine
- Eat with others
- Eat in front of the TV
- Avoid alcohol
- Make large batches of your favorite foods and freeze portions
- Keep plenty of snacks around
Ways to Increase Nutrients
For those who can only eat a little, you can increase the calories and nutrients in your food by:
- adding butter
- mixing canned soups with milk instead of water
- make lots of smoothies
- add cheese to everything
- enrich food and drinks with powdered milk, yogurt or honey
- use instant breakfast mixes and other meal-replacement shakes
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