In gastric cancer patients, when the stomach is surgically resected, part or all of the stomach disappears, so the food storage function is weakened, and food digestion and absorption are not smooth, so they feel discomfort after eating. Patients who have undergone colorectal cancer surgery may also experience chronic discomfort such as diarrhea and gas. We looked at the dietary questions that patients who have undergone gastric and colon cancer surgery should know.
Frequent diarrhea after gastric cancer surgery
About 10-20% of patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery experience diarrhea. It is known that the cause is intestinal motility disorder due to nerve cut, fat absorption disorder, and excessive growth of intestinal bacteria. Diarrhea often occurs when you eat too much or eat quickly than usual, or when you eat stimulant foods or foods you don’t like. If your symptoms are severe, you may need to temporarily prescribe medication.
When you burp a lot after gastric cancer surgery
When a portion of the stomach is resected through gastric cancer surgery, the remaining stomach loses its ability to exercise significantly, which often leads to gastric stasis in which food remains in the stomach. At this time, if poorly digested food remains in the stomach for a long time, belching occurs frequently and is accompanied by a foul odor. In most cases, it is found that burping decreases as digestion improves over time.
Whether you consume medicinal food or health functional food after gastric cancer surgery
Medicinal food or health functional food may become toxic during storage or extraction, so be careful. After gastric cancer surgery, various drugs are often taken, such as anticancer drugs, digestive drugs, and anemia drugs. It is advisable not to take the drug because it can cause side effects by interacting with medicinal foods or health functional foods.
When stools are loose after colon cancer surgery
Colorectal cancer patients often have loose stools if the resected intestine is large or if they receive radiation therapy. However, in general, after a few months after surgery, the number of loose stools decreases and the thickness of the stool normalizes. When you have loose stools, it’s a good idea to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. It is also recommended to avoid oily or spicy foods, drinks with caffeine such as alcohol and coffee, and foods high in fiber.
Precautions when having a stoma
After colon cancer surgery, a stoma, an artificial anus, is often used. There are no particular restrictions on having a stoma, but there are a few things to watch out for. First, you need to chew your food well. This is because if food is not chewed well, it passes through the intestines undigested and nutrients cannot be properly absorbed. It is recommended to drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day. If you don’t drink enough water, you can easily become dehydrated, and if you drink too much water, the amount of drainage increases, so be careful. Also, avoid popcorn, corn, pineapple, peels or seeds of fruits, which may cause intestinal obstruction for 6 weeks after surgery.