Low fiber diet during radiation

[BadNews4me]

Have begun external beam treatments and heard low fiber diet was very important. Dr never mentioned this.

All comment welcome

[6357axbz]

During IMRT, 30 sessions, I ate a high fiber diet but one that minimizes gassy-ness. Ideally you want to have a BM before your radiation session so your lower intestine is not distended against your prostate. Your also don’t want gas accumulating in that same lower intestinal area. For me IMRT was a cakewalk. Good luck with your treatment.

[BadNews4me in reply to 6357axbz]

Thanks 6357.

[Manilo]

Empty the bowel as much as possible before radiation. Don t eat fiber.

I believe fasting would be better.

You want your rectum wall not pressing your Prostate.

[6357axbz in reply to Manilo]

I don’t understand why one wouldn’t want to eat fiber. A high fiber diet promotes regular bowel movements. In my case I had regular BMs mid morning so my lower intestinal track was relatively empty for my late morning to early afternoon radiation treatment. However, as I mentioned above you don’t want to eat fiber that promotes intestinal gas.

[Manilo in reply to 6357axbz]

my Dr told me to have an empty rectum. To achieve this, he says try eating low fiber diet, even try fasting a bit.

an empty bowel will not be much in touch with prostate while radiation is beeing performed. Less toxicity

[BadNews4me in reply to Manilo]

Manilo, thank you for sharing. Will be following up with Dr

[IrishDude]

I had a lot of problems at first getting my bowel sufficiently clear for the technicians, despite doing everything I could. So they put me on the low fiber diet, and that helped. It's not particularly healthy, lots of carbs and stuff, which is probably why they don't push it unless you need it.

[BadNews4me]

Appreciate all reply’s Will speak with Dr this week.

[Tall_Allen]

Follow your doctor's directions. I also had no changes in diet. MY RO explained that any changes in diet can cause the bowels to react. Bowel motion is the enemy of EBRT. He did direct me to empty my bowels before each treatment - but not with an enema. My treatments were very short, and position was tracked intra-fractionally, so motion during treatment was minimal. Other machines are not as fast as the one I had, and intrafractional tracking can make a difference. Your doctor knows his machine - do what he says.

[Oct18 in reply to Tall_Allen]

I agree with TA. Do what your Dr. says. I eat/ate a big bowl of oatmeal every morning and I am vegan so I was concerned that was not good during radiation. I changed nothing and breezed through the first 5 weeks of radiation. The last few days I made a few trips to the bathroom but that was only a for few days. I had 5 1/2 weeks of treatment.

[BadNews4me in reply to Oct18]

Thanks Oct18 for your reply. Will discuss with Dr. on Thursday.

[BadNews4me]

Thanks Tall_Allen appreciate your comments

[Hidden]

Talk to your Radiation Oncologist. And follow their instructions. Bet he places you on stool softeners. I had no dietary restrictions. No changes in diet. Be sure and drink at least eight glasses of water. You do not want to get constipated considering the unavoidable traumatic injury. I had 25 sessions of IMRT after Brachytherapy in 2003.

GD.

[Break60]

I had no change in diet except to not eat gassy foods

[RonnyBaby]

There is a connection between diet, supplement use and radiation treatment.

You need to fill up with fluids, while being 'void' in the stool (bowel movement) department.

This is done to make sure the targeted area is 'prepared' for the treatment.

Not sure about the fiber part, but you do need to show up 'prepped''.

[BadNews4me]

Appreciate all the replies. Great source of information from the many with first hand experience. Will get Drs opinion on Thursday.

[Ausi]

I’m just back from getting zapped today, I’ve got about 7 days to go, 30 days in all. I’ve got 2 mets on my pelvis being zapped. My RO explained that radiation is X Rays. When on the bed having treatment they take a couple of X-rays to line up against the original PET scan. They then can adjust to the scan. The machine then does a half circle of zapping for about 40 seconds. I see the RO tomorrow, however, I asked the technician about diet and full/empty bladder and he said it had no effect on the treatment I’m having although if they were zapping the prostate the full/empty bladder would be important.

I’m getting through it without any problems as I did on 2 other occasions.

All the best.

[BadNews4me in reply to Ausi]

Audi, thanks for the info and all the best goin forward.

[nycrunner]

Hi

My ONCO also wanted to undertake the radiotherapy option.

I declined.

No matter how they say it is now a lot more safer that previous they also cover themselves fro liability saying there are possibly problems.

I purchased a PEMF device from an outfit in LA.

It provides the same sort of benefits but without the side effects.

Check out Bill Doyle on YouTube.

[Ausi]

I just thought I’d give you an update, a couple of days ago I noticed bleeding in my stools, it was less yesterday and I think gone today. I’ve now got just 3 days to go (of 30 days). I mentioned it to the radiation nurse on my weekly consultation. She said to minimise fibre intake because the radiation heats up and consequently dries out what’s coming through the bowel causing constipation ie a dry mass trying to slide through. If you’re on high fibre it’s a pretty large mass. So, plenty of water will help. A bit of bleeding is “normal” though if you get a lot, eg “bleeding without stools or toilet paper full of blood” something else is going on, get to emergency.

I guess I’ve been lucky, I’ve done radiation before and just don’t remember being told this, my fibre intake is pretty high. 3 more days then a Merry Christmas until my next PSA blood test!

[BadNews4me in reply to Ausi]

Thanks Ausi for the info. Wish you the best as you complete your treatments. Happy and healthy holidays.

[konichiwa12]

My hospital had an information sheet for low fibre diet which helped. I had 37 fractions last year and did have problems with my bowel although I still went to work every day. I still have issues now with bowel movements but I take Fibogel (Ispagula husk) which really helps!

[BadNews4me in reply to konichiwa12]

Thanks konichiwa12, hope improvements continue.

[westof]

Hmm... Before I started 25 days of IMRT( completed July 8th), my MSK RO recommended that I cut back or eliminate coffee and take Metamucil daily ( I took 3 gel caps daily).

This was to help with potential episodes of diarrhea. Except for a few loose BM's, it was a breeze.

Best

[BadNews4me in reply to westof]

Thanks westof, going forward hope all continues to be a breeze.

[westof in reply to BadNews4me]

Thanks, its been 4 months and no SE's.

I'm also on Lupron, Zytiga and prednisone and continue to take Flomax and Viagra 20 mg nightly.

Its been 16 months since my dx: G9,stage 3,highPSA28 and no mets.

PSA has held steady <0.014 and testosterone <12. I still feel great (at 71).

We will see...