My dad will have surgery in December to remove a 7cm tumour. Until then he is on a low fibre diet. Can you advise any suitable crisps/snacks he could eat? And fruits? Thanks
My dad will have surgery in December to remove a 7cm tumour. Until then he is on a low fibre diet. Can you advise any suitable crisps/snacks he could eat? And fruits? Thanks
Dear Emmaj1983
Thank you for getting in touch with us on our Online Community, I’m Sue one of the cancer information nurses on the Support Line.
I’ve noticed you have also joined other groups; I hope you are finding these helpful and supportive, sometimes talking to others going through similar experiences can make such a difference.
It’s understandable you have reached out for some support to help your dad with his low fibre diet, it’s not always easy to know which food types this includes.
In preparation for bowel cancer surgery a low fibre diet is often advised. This helps to reduce the amount of undigested food in the body, making it easier for someone to empty their bowels before their operation. This type of diet may also help with initial recovery following surgery.
Although a low fibre diet can limit what type of food someone eats fruit can still be eaten but this should be soft, with any skin, stalks, seed, or stones always removed. Stewing fruit can help to make certain types of fruit softer and canned pears and peaches can be eaten.
The NHS has lots of patient information to help someone follow a low fibre diet, this one from The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust gives useful tips of foods which are allowed, and which should be avoided, including advise on snacks and crisps. Poole Hospital NHS Foundation trust also offer low fibre diet information, once again offering suggestions of suitable fruit and snacks.
Memorial Sloan Kettering provide further reliable, helpful information, they also have recipe suggestions which can be followed on a low fibre diet.
I hope you find this useful for you and your dad, however we would always encourage him to discuss any individual dietary concerns or questions he may have with following a low fibre diet, with his hospital consultant, clinical nurse specialist or hospital dietician, as they are best placed to advise him, including how long he should continue on this type of diet.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please get in touch by email, webchat or phone. The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial, and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.
Best wishes
Sue
Ref: DT/SMG
