Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, can affect any part of the colon or rectum; it may also be referred to as colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where the cancer is located.
Bowel cancer screening is for people who do not already have bowel cancer, symptoms of bowel cancer, or any reason to have a high risk of bowel cancer.
Patient-centred care is healthcare that is respectful of, and responsive to, the preferences, needs and values of patients and consumers.
Bowel Cancer Australia provides essential support services uniquely designed for bowel cancer patients via our confidential Helpline with specialist telehealth support, as well as a national Peer-to-Peer Support Network and Buddy Program.
Bowel Cancer Australia funds research that has the potential to improve survival and/or help build a path toward a cure and integrates published research into our awareness, advocacy, and support strategies.
Bowel Cancer Australia relies upon donations and the support of hard working and enthusiastic fundraisers across the country to continue our life saving work. We raise funds to continue our life-saving work and inspire others to do the same, so everyone affected by bowel cancer can live their best life.
After surgery some people can eat normal foods and have normal bowel motions. However, some people experience loose bowel motions or constipation.
The low fibre diet is often suggested for people who are experiencing difficult bowel motions and for some people temporarily in inflammatory bowel conditions.
The low fibre diet is often suggested in both diarrhoea and constipation scenarios with a few minor adjustments. Your specialist may also suggest some medication to help reduce the number and quantity of loose motions or medication for constipation.
As your symptoms improve and your bowel motions normalise you may be able to start reintroducing your favourite foods.
Do this slowly and add one new food at half a cup at a time so you can identify any foods that cause bowel upset.
Your specialist or surgeon will suggest a diet appropriate for you.
In hospital you will usually have a discussion with a dietitian.
If you experience constipation or any sign of blockage – not opening your bowels for two to three days, please contact your specialist or healthcare professional.
If you experience extremely loose watery bowel motions and leakage, pain or fever please contact your specialist or healthcare professional.
Low fibre diets may not be suitable for diabetics. This is due to the low amount of fibre in low fibre foods.
Fibre assists blood glucose levels to remain stable and is at the core of a diabetic diet. If you are diabetic and you wish to eat less fibre in your diet due to bowel conditions, please discuss this with your healthcare professional.
A lower fibre diet is may be suggested until you start having bowel motions that are mostly formed, not too hard, pass easily and cause not pain or upset, after which you may be able to have larger food particles and some fibre.
Once the initial bowel movement has occurred some people have difficulty with fibre foods for the following reasons:
Write a food diary. Some foods may make your symptoms worse. Everybody is different, therefore only you can tell what aggravates your symptoms.
Writing a food diary helps you to identify what foods make your bowel work better or worse.
Eat small meals regularly every three to four hours and try to keep your weight stable. This is particularly important if you are undergoing treatment.
A small meal is one that fits in a mug. The size of a side plate is about the right size for a small meal. This could amount to you eating 6-7 small portions a day to maintain your calorie intake.
If you are losing weight drink some protein drinks in between meals with a milk of your choice.
Lactose intolerance may occur after surgery in some people, a food diary will help you determine this or speak to your health care professional.
Lactose is found in dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and ice cream and some processed and packaged foods.
Make sure you have plenty of water. Aim for 6-8 cups of water a day, if you like some flavour in water enjoy some sliced fruit in water to infuse some healthy sugars.
Multivitamin and mineral supplementation may be necessary. Check with your health care professional.
A Bowel Cancer Australia resource providing dietary advice specifically for bowel cancer patients following treatment or surgery, to help them on their road to recovery.
All foods are better tolerated if they are well cooked, peeled, deseeded or in some cases blended in a food processor.
Meat and vegetables and fruits may need to be cooked and consumed in small portion sizes and after surgery for a while.
Raw uncooked fruit and vegetables may not be tolerated in the beginning and until your bowel starts to recover.
Avoid whole nuts, coconuts, whole seeds, and large tough pieces of meat, or chicken, whole mushrooms, beans and legumes, wholegrains, popcorn, pomegranate, and fruit with peel, large pips, and celery unless well chopped.
All vegetables with stalks need to be well-cooked and blended or avoided.
If you are experiencing very loose bowels add white rice to your meals, or mash potato or flour to firm motions and avoid leakage.
Other foods that help are marshmallows, arrow root biscuits, white bread and slightly green bananas to firm the movement.
Talk to a health care professional if you are experiencing any soreness internally or externally. There are gentle washes and creams that can be applied externally if there is redness and stinging. Internal soreness may mean you need to talk with your specialist.
If your motions are watery you may need to add Psyllium husk or Metamucil to bind the watery flow. This is a fibre and would need to be introduced slowly to avoid constipation, remembering to increase water intake at the same time.
Once your bowel has settled after a few weeks to months you may at some stage slowly re introduce your favourite foods one food at a time, increase fibre, and move to a medium fibre foods diet.
Below is a sample menu guide please ensure you read our modifiable risks webpage to ensure you are eating within the World Cancer Research Fund guidelines to modify bowel cancer risk.
The below is intended as a guide and are suggestions. They are not tailored to individual needs or intolerances and are based on product nutritional guides by the manufacturers or Australian Food Composition Database (January 2019). Weights and measures of food and reactions may vary in individuals. For tailored advice please contact your health care provider.
Generally, do not contain fibre and are therefore not limited
NOTE: Beef, Kangaroo, lamb and deli cuts (minimise and consume less than 500 grams per week to reduce bowel cancer risk)
*avoid white bread that is fibre enriched
*avoid Konjac or slim noodles
Cereals are generally higher in fibre. The list below are 2 grams of fibre and under per serve (please adhere to the serving sizes)
It is best to eat under 1⁄3 a cup serves to avoid high fibre intake
It is best to eat under 1⁄3 a cup serves and no more than one cup of vegetables (except potato) in total to avoid high fibre intake
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