Radiation diet

Low Fiber diet
I did not worry too much about my diet until I started having some bowel problems. Am thinking it was about week 3. Then I just reduced fiber and pretty much ate anything else. I did take Lomotil periodically and I was having a lot of cramping and I got a script for a drug to slow that down a bit. I still occasionally have some "bouts" but I can live with it and still occasionally need to take a Lomotil.

I know that everyone responds very differently.. Best wishes to you on this leg of your journey. Let us know how you are doing!

Karen

jazzy1 said:

Diet
As Karen mentioned, I didn't change the diet until approx 3 weeks when the "rush" started. I'm a fiber junky and it was tough for me, but worth it. My doc gave me a sheet to follow on foods and over the counter meds for bowel issues. No prescriptions needed!

You'll find it takes a while even after radiation, for bowels to be somewhat normal. I'm 12 months out from treatment and my bowels are "challenged", but know I can eat everything. Takes time for the body to adjust once again.

Best of luck today and plse come back and let us know your thoughts!!
Jan

Diet
I never had to change my diet with radiation. I could still enjoy all the fruits and vegetables that I always ate. I had only occasional issues with loose stools and only took immodium a few times. I had 28 external radiation and then internal radiation. As previously stated, we all react differently to our treatments.

Good luck. In peace and caring.

Low fiber diet
I had severe diahrrea which started the 3rd week of radiation. I took Cisplatin and an antinausea medication that offset the diahrrea. But, it still was a challenge. The nutritionist recommended a low fiber diet like the others mentioned. I read the labels on everything. Eggs were ok. Not raw though, like Rocky. White bread, starchy things were permissable. I love salads and craved them. When I ate anything with fiber my body reacted unkindly. I lived on Lipton chicken soup with noodles. Yep, I know it probably was not the best thing. Hadn't heard of the Anti-Cancer Diet at that time. Drink lots of fluids. Milkshakes were recommended to me since I had no problem with dairy products.

What was explained to me was that our instestines when subjected to abdominal radiation slough off their lining. They eventually build up a new lining but, in the meantime are tender and fragile. You may see a lot of mucous and have green stools. That is not uncommon. Like a baby whose intestines are not able to assimilate certain foods so are those of us who have radiation therapy. It took about a month for me to stop seeing the effects of the radiation. And now 6 mos later I am fine and everything works like a clock.

Keep your chin up, sweetie. When I look back it was all worth it. Just take one day at a time.