diet / vitamins during Chemo

Hi Tree201066

I had the same in  May last year, stage 3, and started with five weeks radiotherapy and Capecitabine. I don't recall being given any advice on diet, only to control any over active bowel with Loperamide (which only happened occasionally). I gave up alcohol for the duration and ate normally. I tried to avoid food that might upset me anyway such as curries. It wasn't until after the operation to remove the tumour and the arrival of an ileostomy that diet became important.

I am sure that different people had different experiences bute this was mine.

Best of luck with this treatment and whatever is to follow.

John

My husband has stage 4 bowel cancer and we have asked the oncologist about diet and vitamins. He said just to eat a normal, healthy balanced diet and there is no evidence that any supplements/vitamins are beneficial. I'd check with your oncologist before taking anything, just in case it interferes with the chemo. Best of luck with your treatment.

This isn't where any of us want to be, but keep positive xx

Hi  and a warm welciome to the board from me. I had the same treatment back in 2016 and I don’t think I was given any particular advice about diet either. I had chemo after my op too and they were quite strict about taking vitamins as they can interfere or react with the chemo tablets although the chemo tablets taken with the radiotherapy are a much lower doseage. Have you had your planning scans and tattoos yet? They will probably go through everything with you then and ask what medication you take. If not then give your Colorectal Support Nurse a ring and run any vitamins that you take past them. I’ve just moved to Lincolnshire but I’ve been referred to Scunthorpe for the rest of my follow-ups.

Take care and let us know how you get on

Karen x

Hi. I didn't have any advice about vitamins but I gave up alcohol. I eat a healthy diet anyway. It was only when I had mop up chemo after my surgery that my oncologist told me to take vitamin D for my calcium levels. It seems like a long road at the start but it passes quite quickly once you get started. Good luck with your treatment. 

Love Kim xx

Hi Tree201066,

Sorry to see you have this diagnosis as i know its very stressful and upsetting, i had sigmoid resection in September and i asked the same as you, what should you eat or avoid, so far any problems i have had have been with food such as onions, leeks etc therefore i would try avoid any food of this nature, made a little error the other day by putting piccalilli on my cheese sandwich, big mistake !

Personally i consentrate on high protein food, eggs, porridge, chicken, cheese, i also have a protein shake which is 96% milk so should be okay but check with your oncologist or nurse first, also jacket potato, seabass and salmon, btw i also  stopped drinking any alcohol before the opp , in fact for the rest of the year, didn't  want to jeopardise  the chemo treatment, not missing it at all.

Just stick with good old fashioned food, nothing fancy and personally wouldn't bother with vitamins, shouldn't be necessary with a good balanced diet 

All the best TG

Thank you John xx

Thank you Lornaliz xx

Thank you Karen x Yes i have had my scan and tattoos but when i asked re any Questions they said all could be answered in my Chemo Prep (which is the day before i start Radio and Chemo.

but i will be honest with all of your replies is actually helping me focus as my head is all over the place (as i'm sure Im not the only one) 

hank you Kim xx

thank you TG - i've been kinda following that diet as quite easy (except giving the cheeky vino...) but yes like you i don't want to let anything get in the way of the treatment xx

a young lady i met at my radio prep swore by wheatgrass... i thought id give that ago xx