After bowel cancer treatment, your digestion needs time to settle. Whether you’ve had surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, you may experience temporary or permanent changes to how your bowel works. This guide helps you navigate that transition through careful “trial and error.”
Diet After Bowel Surgery
Immediately following surgery, you may be placed on a low-fibre diet for about six weeks to allow the bowel to heal. As things settle, you can gradually reintroduce fibre.
Low-Fibre Staples (Start Here)
- White pasta, white bread, and white rice.
- Cornflakes or Rice Krispies.
- Peeled and well-cooked vegetables.
- Lean meat, fish, and eggs (High protein for healing).
- Rich tea biscuits or cream crackers.
Common “Upset” Foods
- Onions, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage (Wind).
- Baked beans, lentils, and pulses.
- Fizzy drinks, beer, and lager.
- Very rich, spicy, or fatty foods.
- Excess caffeine (Can worsen diarrhoea).
Practical Eating Tips
- Little and Often: Eat small, frequent meals rather than three large ones. Avoid long gaps between eating.
- Chew Well: Take small mouthfuls and chew slowly to aid digestion.
- Hydration: Drink 1.5 to 2 litres (3–4 pints) of water daily. If you have diarrhoea, consider electrolyte replacement drinks to restore body salts.
- Wind Relief: Peppermint water or tea can help relieve trapped wind and discomfort.
Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy
Both treatments can cause significant digestive disruption:
- Radiotherapy: Often causes diarrhoea that may last a few weeks post-treatment. If it persists beyond 6 weeks, contact your doctor.
- Chemotherapy: Can cause nausea, diarrhoea, or a sore mouth. These effects are usually temporary and will subside once the course is finished.
Diet with a Stoma or Ileostomy
It takes 6–8 weeks for the bowel to settle. Most people eventually return to a completely normal diet, but there are specific considerations:
Ileostomy: Avoiding Blockages
Because the small bowel is narrower, certain high-fibre foods can cause a temporary blockage. Introduce these slowly and chew them very thoroughly:
- Celery
- Tough fruit skins
- Nuts
- Mushrooms
- Sweetcorn
