Dietary tips after rectal cancer surgery

The diet of colorectal cancer patients after surgery is very important, because it is closely related to the patient's future recovery. So, what should colorectal cancer patients pay attention to in their diet after surgery?

1. Patients should not eat immediately after surgery and should fast for 3-4 days. They can eat only after the gas is discharged. The discharge of gas indicates that the intestines have resumed normal peristalsis and the intestinal function is gradually recovering. At this time, patients should eat liquid food, and choose easily digestible and nutritious food, such as rice soup, vegetable soup, lotus root juice, etc. Patients should eat small and frequent meals as the principle, 6-7 meals a day, and eat every 2-3 hours.

2. Patients can eat semi-liquid food about 7 days after surgery, that is, add a small amount of easily digestible solid food on the basis of liquid food. High-protein, low-fiber food should be selected, such as porridge, noodles, etc. The principle is still to eat small meals frequently, 5-6 meals a day is better.

3. After two weeks, the patient can eat easily digestible food, but avoid fiber-rich foods such as coarse grains, celery, etc., to avoid increasing the burden on the intestines.

4. Patients should avoid foods that are highly irritating to the intestines, alcoholic beverages, foods that are easy to produce gas and odor, and foods that are difficult to digest, etc., to avoid irritation to the intestines that may cause wound damage or infection. Foods that are highly irritating to the intestines include cold drinks, raw or half-cooked foods; foods that are easy to produce gas include sweet potatoes, beans, radishes, etc.; foods that are easy to produce odor include onions, eggs, onions, shrimps, etc.; foods that are difficult to digest include persimmons, raisins, dried fruits, walnuts, and fried foods, etc. In addition, curry, coffee, and garlic are not suitable for patients to eat.

5. Patients can eat normally after discharge, but they should choose nutritious and easily digestible foods, maintain a balanced diet, avoid picky eating, avoid eating raw, cold, fried and pickled foods, etc., and maintain a regular lifestyle.