Rectal Radiation and Nutrition: Anyone have plant-based diet advice?

Posted by amariewilkinson @amariewilkinson, Apr 27, 2022

Hello,
Long story short, I had a large polyp discovered and resected from the rectum at age 41 last year. After finding 2 cancers (main worrisome one being a tiny Neuroendocrine Carcinoma) , I went through 5 weeks of pelvic and rectal radiation plus 4 rounds of chemotherapy. Radiation plus the resected area has left me with quite a lot of pain/dietary issues etc. 12 weeks later and I’m still unable to eat much fiber with severe ulcerations and narrowing of the rectum. Anyone else going through anything similar and anyone have dietary advice? I really wanted to follow a whole food/plant based diet to help my body fight any possible remaining cancer but now I can’t since hardly any fiber seems to tear me up and cause so much pain! A bland soft diet is almost all I can handle. Help and thank you!

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 28, 2022

Welcome @amariewilkinson. I can see where you have a challenging situation. You want to follow a healthy plant-based diet, but fiber is causing issues. I'd like to bring @pjebp @travelgirl @azcyclist2018 @lisag03 @tiss @annmac74 and @virgo1952 into this discussion in the hopes that they have some first-hand experiences and tips to share.

In the meantime, these related discussions might provide some insight:
- Rectal pain and diet post right hemicolectomy https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/right-hemicolectomy-rectal-pain-and-diet/
- Dietary Changes Before and After Colon Cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/dietary-changes-before-and-after-colon-cancer/
- Appetite Satiety: Normal to feel full after a small amount of food? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/appetite-satiety/

Amarie, have you considered taking your questions to an oncology dietitian? Many cancer centers have specialists who deal with diet for cancer patients.