Nutritional Therapy for Patients With Large Bowel Cancer

Large bowel cancer, often called colorectal cancer, can develop in the colon or rectum. According to the American Cancer Society, of all cancers diagnosed in the United States, colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in men and women.

Some cases of large bowel cancer can be prevented by removing non-cancerous polyps from the colon or rectum before the polyps turn cancerous.

Causes

• You are more likely to develop large bowel cancer if you are over 50, and have a family history of the disease.

  Those with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease also have increased risk of developing large bowel cancer.

  Eating too many fatty foods increases your chances of developing large bowel cancer, while high fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables seem to have a protective effect.

Symptoms

• You may not notice any symptoms in the early stages of large bowel cancer. Later-stage symptoms include a bloated feeling, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal cramps, pencil-thin bowel movements, and constant fatigue.

Diet

• Many large bowel cancer patients have no appetite, but making small changes in dietary routine may rev up a lost appetite.

  Serve small portions of favorite foods several times a day. Flavored meal replacement drinks provide needed nutrition and can be used as a meal substitute.

  Serving easily digestible foods such as yogurts and puddings, can be more appealing to a poor appetite.

  Do not cook food with strong odors such as onions and garlic, as it may make someone with cancer feel nauseated.

Treatment

• The primary treatment for large bowel cancer is surgery, removing the cancerous parts of the large bowel, and any surrounding lymph nodes. According to Cedars- Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, surgery can be a cure for 70 percent of those with colon cancer.

  If there is not enough healthy bowel remaining to reconnect, a colostomy will be performed. A surgeon makes an opening in the abdomen, placing the end of the bowel through the hole, and finishes the procedure by placing a bag over the opening to collect stool.

  Chemotherapy uses drugs to shrink lymph nodes and destroy newly-formed cancer cells.

  Medication can be taken in pill form, by injection or intravenously. Frequent blood tests are performed to make sure you are receiving the right amount of chemotherapy, and to determine the drug's effect of the drug on your body. Chemotherapy can leave you weak and tired, and more prone to infection for a while.

  Radiation using X-rays or gamma rays is used to kill any cancerous cells left behind in surgery, and prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. Radiation is effective in shrinking cancerous tumors, reducing cancer pain, and controlling bleeding. Doctors often combine chemotherapy and radiation.

Follow-up

• When you finish treatment, check-ups and blood tests will be performed at least once a year, and ultrasound or scans may be necessary. Between appointments, call your doctor if you notice any new symptoms.