Many family members of patients with colorectal cancer are concerned about "How soon can I eat after colorectal cancer surgery? What can I eat to get adequate nutrition? Can I take supplements on the market? How to take enteral nutrition powder?" etc., the following is a unified explanation for everyone. one time.

1. How long should you eat in the early days after bowel cancer surgery?How long you need to eat after bowel cancer surgery and what you can eat are determined based on the location of the tumor, the method of surgery, and the patient's postoperative recovery.

Generally speaking, for patients with colon cancer and high rectal cancer, the anus can basically be preserved after surgery, and the food eaten must be expelled through the anus. In order to heal the anastomosis, it is best to wait 5-7 days after the anal exhaust before eating, such as a small amount of Water, liquid food, meat and vegetable soup, porridge, etc., and then gradually return to normal diet.

During this period, it is generally recommended to take oral enteral nutrition powder, which can provide more comprehensive nutrition, is less likely to produce stool, has less impact on anastomotic recovery, can effectively reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage, and facilitates anastomotic healing.

For rectal cancer patients with enterostomy, if it is a preventive temporary stoma, food will not pass through the rectal anastomosis and will be discharged from the ileostomy. Generally, liquid food and enteral nutrition powder can be eaten within 1-2 days after surgery, and supplements While providing nutrition, it does not affect the anastomosis.

If you have a permanent colostomy, you generally have to wait for the colostomy to pass gas and the gastrointestinal function to recover before eating. Generally, about 3 days after the operation, you can also eat liquid food and enteral nutrition powder, and then slowly eat again. Transition to semi-liquid and regular food.

However, regardless of whether you have a stoma after bowel cancer surgery, you should avoid spicy, irritating, cold, hard, gas-producing, fried, pickled, and indigestible foods during this period.

What are the other precautions after bowel cancer surgery?

1. Activities off the ground How long it takes to get off the ground after bowel cancer surgery is related to the surgical method and the patient's physical condition.

At present, most bowel cancer surgeries are completed laparoscopically, with smaller incisions and faster recovery. Patients can move about 1-2 days after surgery to reduce the risk of intestinal adhesion and intestinal obstruction. Of course, for laparotomy, For patients with stoma, it is generally recommended to stay in bed for 3-5 days, and then move around. This varies from person to person, so follow the doctor's advice.

2. Wound and stoma care In the early stage after bowel cancer surgery, wound and stoma care must be taken care of, especially stoma care, which needs to be carried out under the guidance of doctors and nurses. Try to wear loose and comfortable clothes at ordinary times, and do not compress the stoma. Pay attention to cleaning around the stoma to avoid contamination of the stoma.

For some stoma patients, they may have low self-esteem, negativity, and pessimism. Their family members should pay attention to accompany them. If fecal leakage occurs, they should pay attention to comfort, which is conducive to recovery.

3. Postoperative adjuvant treatment and regular review. After bowel cancer surgery, it is necessary to decide whether to receive adjuvant treatment according to the tumor stage to reduce the risk of tumor recurrence and metastasis. You can just follow the doctor's instructions.

Of course, there may be some adverse reactions during radiotherapy and chemotherapy. If nutrient absorption is not good at this time, you can take enteral nutrition powder to supplement. During the interval between chemotherapy, you can eat more nutritious, easy-to-absorb, and easy-to-digest foods.

Finally, regular follow-up examinations are required after bowel cancer surgery to observe whether there is recurrence or metastasis, so as to achieve early detection and early treatment.