A healthy diet is imperative for colon cancer patients, not only so they can endure the cancer treatment, but also so they can prevent the occurrence of new tumors. The main nutritional issues that colon cancer patients face are eating enough protein to maintain muscle mass and taking in enough calories to fuel healing. Each colon cancer patient will experience different side effects such as constipation, gas or diarrhea. Speak to your doctor or health-care provider about nutritional support for your specific case.
Cachexia
Since colon cancer is a cancer that affects the gastrointestinal tract, colon cancer patients are particularly at risk of developing cachexia as a result of poor nutrition. According Debra Barton, R.N., Ph.D., editor in chief of the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query Palliative Care Editorial Board, cachexia is a wasting syndrome that causes progressive loss of muscle, fat and body weight. This condition contributes to mortality in an estimated 20 to 40 percent of colon cancer patients and often does not respond to nutritional therapy.
Protein
Adequate protein intake is essential to colon cancer patients. Protein-rich foods that colon cancer patients can have include cold water fish such as salmon, halibut, sardines and mackerel, eggs, whey and vegetable protein shakes, baked chicken with the skin removed and low-fat dairy products. Colon cancer patients are advised to choose lean meats such as turkey and chicken, and to avoid eating red meat altogether, according to the Johns Hopkins Colon Cancer Center.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Colon cancer patients can also have foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids. Johns Hopkins Colon Cancer Center recommends omega-3 fatty acids to boost appetite and reduce the nerve damage that often occurs as a result of the cancer and cancer treatment. According to a 2010 study conducted by Italian researchers and published in the "European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences," eicosapentaenoic acid -- an omega-3 fatty acid better known as EPA -- demonstrated some efficacy in the treatment of cachexia. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include herring, flax seeds and flax seed oil, canola oil and walnuts.
Dietary Fiber
Colon cancer patients may experience varying degrees of constipation, diarrhea or gas during treatment. Colon cancer patients can have certain foods to help manage and alleviate these symptoms. In cases where colon cancer patients experience constipation, for example, high-fiber foods and fluids such as bran, oatmeal and prune juice are recommended. In cases where the patient has intestinal gas, lactose-free dairy products are recommended. Speak to your doctor or health-care provider for nutritional suggestions specific to your symptoms.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Colorectal Cancer; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; December 2008
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: Colorectal Cancer: Nutrition and Colon Cancer
- National Cancer Institute; Nutrition in Cancer Care Overview; Debra Barton, R.N., Ph.D. et al.; December 2010
- "European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences"; Randomised phase III clinical trial of 5 different arms of treatment on 332 patients with cancer cachexia; G. Mantovani; April 2010
