Diet & Cancer

One-to-one dietary advice

You may need to make some dietary changes if you are having bowel cancer treatment, such as avoiding very high fibre fruit and vegetables for example. We work with a team of dieticians who can help you to optimise your diet and provide one-to-one dietary advice to support you. We also work with physiotherapists who can recommend exercises that can help your body to remain fit and supple as well as supporting you to manage any pain or discomfort. A mix of gentle exercise to build strength and fitness can help you during the recovery process.

When it comes to diet and bowel cancer treatment, here are some things to bear in mind:

Foods to avoid

After bowel cancer treatment, it can take time for your digestion to settle down and you may find that certain foods in particular cause problems. We commonly advise patients to avoid highly process or refined foods as well as fruit or vegetables that are very high in fibre, lentils and pulses, cabbage, brussel sprouts and onions, rich or fatty foods, beer, lager and fizzy drinks. You will be discharged from hospital as soon as you are able to eat fairly normally again but you may need to follow a low fibre diet for around six weeks before slowly introducing fibre back into your diet. So, for example, we may advise eating white rather than wholemeal bread and pasta and peeling fruit.

Colostomy and ileostomy

If you have been given a colostomy or ileostomy, it can take several months before your bowel functions normally again and you may need to make permanent changes to your diet. Your consultant and dieticians will provide individual advice and will monitor you carefully after surgery.

Diarrhoea

If you have had surgery to remove a large section of your colon you can sometimes experience diarrhoea. This is because the colon absorbs water as poo passes along it so, without it, the poo becomes less solid. We can provide medication to help control this. You may also experience diarrhoea after radiotherapy or chemotherapy as well as other problems such as nausea, loss of appetite, sore mouth and trouble swallowing. Always talk to your care team who can help you to manage these and other uncomfortable side-effects.

What and when to eat

Eating food that is high in protein and calories (such as meat, fish and eggs) can help your body to heal and support your immune system while you are recovering. It is better to eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than the typical three meals a day, and remember to chew your food thoroughly. You should aim to drink one and a half to two litres of fluid a day and reduce the amount of caffeine you have as it can worsen diarrhoea.

Keeping a food diary

Keeping a food diary can help you to identify particular foods that may be causing digestive problems. It can be helpful to have this to hand when you see the dietician so you can discuss possible alternatives.

Please remember, we are here to support you with every aspect of your treatment and recovery so please talk to us about any problems, including dietary issues. After recovering from cancer, choosing to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly will help you to remain fit and healthy, as well as improving your quality of life.