Postoperative Diet and Care for Rectal Cancer

Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Firstly, rectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract, so after surgery, it is recommended to eat foods that are easy to digest and absorb. Secondly, do not smoke, abstain from alcohol, and avoid spicy and irritating foods. Thirdly, it is advised not to eat indigestible foods, such as bean products and foods that cause gas, and to consume them in smaller quantities. Fourthly, rectal cancer may deplete a large amount of nutrients in the body, coupled with the damage from surgery, so it is essential to ensure a nutrition-rich diet, consume nutritious foods such as soups, easily digestible congee, and high-quality proteins to increase the body's nutrients. Fifthly, attention should be paid to timely adding clothing to avoid catching a cold.

Other Voices

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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How long can one live after rectal cancer surgery?

The specific life expectancy after radical resection for rectal cancer varies among individuals and is dependent on various factors including the patient's general and physical condition, pathological staging post-surgery, and whether there are high-risk factors for recurrence such as lymph node metastasis, vascular tumor thrombus, and nerve invasion. The overall five-year survival rate post-surgery is approximately 50%. If the disease is confined to the submucosa and lacks high-risk factors such as vascular tumor thrombus, nerve invasion, or lymph node metastasis, the five-year survival rate after radical surgery can reach up to 90%. However, if post-surgery pathology reveals lymph node metastasis, vascular tumor thrombus, and nerve invasion, among other high-risk factors, the patient's five-year survival rate will decrease. Thus, survival rates are closely related to many factors.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can rectal cancer be cured?

If rectal cancer is detected in its early stages, such as stage I or II, curative surgery can be performed. Postoperative decisions regarding the necessity of adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy are based on the postoperative pathological staging. Early-stage rectal cancer patients can achieve a cure through surgical treatment combined with some postoperative adjuvant therapies. After curative surgery, the overall five-year survival rate is approximately 50%. However, this rate can vary and is associated with several factors such as postoperative pathology, whether there is lymph node metastasis, the presence of vascular tumor thrombi, and nerve invasion, among other high-risk factors for recurrence, showing certain individual differences. Yet, early-stage rectal cancer patients can achieve a cure through these methods.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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Is chemotherapy effective for late-stage rectal cancer?

Late-stage rectal cancer is primarily due to the metastasis and proliferation of cancer cells. At this stage, surgery alone cannot completely eliminate cancer cells, so chemotherapy is necessary. Chemotherapy has certain effects clinically, especially in patients who are sensitive to chemotherapy drugs, where the effects are more pronounced. This can control the spread of cancer cells in multiple locations and can, to some extent, improve patient survival rates. For patients, it is important to maintain good health, enhance their immune system, consume foods rich in high-quality proteins, and engage in appropriate exercise. Moreover, maintaining a positive mindset is beneficial for extending life. Additionally, patients can integrate traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture as complementary therapies, which can also potentially improve postoperative survival rates.

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Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
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Early symptoms of rectal cancer

The early symptoms of rectal cancer generally include five main signs: The first early symptom is bloody stool, which is the earliest and most common symptom of rectal cancer. The second symptom is mucous bloody stool. Large cauliflower-like tumor masses generally secrete a large amount of mucus, which can cause mucous bloody stool. The third is a change in bowel habits. What does a change in bowel habits mean? It means that sometimes there can be diarrhea, sometimes constipation, or an alternation of constipation and diarrhea, indicating a change in bowel habits. There can even be changes in the shape of the stool, which is the third symptom. The fourth symptom is a feeling of heaviness or fullness in the perineum or anus. The fifth symptom can cause abdominal pain. It can cause pain in the lower abdomen, a sensation of a foreign body in the intestine, and even bloating. For instance, constipation can lead to difficulty in passing stool, which in turn can cause bloating and abdominal pain. These are primarily the five early symptoms.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Is rectal cancer without metastasis curable?

Can rectal cancer without metastases be treated successfully? If rectal cancer has not metastasized, its prognosis and outcome are relatively much better compared to cases where there are metastases and recurrences. If surgery is performed for rectal cancer and there is no recurrence or metastasis afterwards, then the five-year survival rate is naturally higher. However, if rectal cancer is initially treated surgically and cleaned thoroughly but then quickly recurs, with liver metastases, lung metastases, etc., then the five-year survival rate would be much lower. Therefore, if rectal cancer has not metastasized, the treatment and prognosis are much better. Thus, if there is no liver or lung metastasis in rectal cancer, the treatment is relatively easier.