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Bowel cancer

Question

My Father has bowel cancer and has never been advised on what foods he needs to steer clear from to prevent "toilet accidents". He knows that if he eats too much fruit it can affect him and he now only eat white bread but is there anything else that we wouldn't expect to cause problems that he needs to stop eating?

Answer

It is difficult to give general advice in your Fathers case, as recommendations depend very much on the individual and the symptoms they are experiencing. Your Father can ask his Hospital Doctor or GP to refer him to a Registered Dietitian who will work alongside his medical team to provide a tailored nutritional assessment.

If your Father has noticed that higher fibre foods aren't suiting him, then he may find it beneficial to eat less of the following foods:

  • Whole grain bread, cereals, rice and pasta
  • Seeds, nuts and pulses
  • Dried fruit

Instead, he could try the following lower fibre options:

  • Refined breads, cereals and pasta
  • White rice
  • Plain biscuits and crackers
  • Well-cooked, tender meat, poultry, fish and eggs
  • Potatoes, without skin
  • Desserts with no seeds or nuts
  • Jam and marmalade without seeds, pips or rind

Fruit, vegetables and salad all contain fibre. Your Fathers Healthcare Professional will be able to advise if restricting these foods is necessary in his case. To help you better understand what is suitable for your Father, you could ask the following questions:

  • Are raw fruit or vegetables allowed?
  • Is fruit OK if it is peeled, stewed or tinned?
  • Is there any fruit he should avoid?
  • What vegetables are allowed?
  • Do they need to be well-cooked?
  • Are there any vegetables he should avoid?

Fruit juice (except prune juice) and vegetable juices are usually OK, but again this should be as directed by your Father's healthcare professional.

If your Father can identify any foods that make his symptoms worse then it would seem sensible to avoid them. The Dietitian will be able to offer advice on choosing food and drinks to ensure he still has a nutritionally balanced diet. Trying to keep well nourished should be the priority at this time.

Encourage your Father to report any changes in bowel movements to his Doctor/Healthcare professional who may be able recommend medication to help prevent any "toilet accidents" and improve his symptoms.

 

Source: Nutrition in cancer Editorial Board