I'm hoping for some advice.

[sistersukes]

Hello everyone, i'm glad to find a community like this to come to. My mother has just had surgery for bowel cancer (R hemicolectomy plus bilateral oopherectomy although no news on the ovaries yet) 10 days ago. She has done really well and feels emotionally ready for the possibility of chemo but doesn't feel physically prepared at all. She is still only eating very small amounts and feels very limited by being told to eat a low fibre diet. She says she needs nurturing and needs healing food. Apart from buying a cookbook (which may happen) does any have any ideas they could share please?

[Jennymary]

I'd like to send best wishes to your mother for a smoothish journey and to you and all your mums family and friends, I'm not able to advise about what to eat, but MacMillan do have recipe books available, and I expect Penny Brohn do as well x

[sistersukes in reply to Jennymary]

Thanks for that. I'm not quite sure I posted in the right place as I'm still finding my way around.

[Jennymary]

Don't worry about finding your way around, at the top of the page where it says My Communities, if you click on that you can 'browse communities' so put in what you're looking for and you should find eat, there's also a healthy eating community so if you follow them you could post your question there as someone may be able to offer more advice than I can x

[TraClo]

how about looking at these recipes - pennybrohn.org.uk/category/...

hope this helps nourish your mum kind regards Tracey xx

[maria50ec]

I understand your concern about low residue diet but if this has been recommended, it will be for medical reasons. I had to go on this diet following radiotherapy to my lower bowel as high fibre food caused me all kinds of pain and discmfort as well as diarrhea. Ask to speak (insist) to a dietician so he/she can advise the most nutricious low residue diet + vitamins until your mother can begin to eat normally again.

There are some amazing cancer cookbooks out there - Penny Brohn, Marsden, The Haven, Maggies - but they are full of healthy, veg, fruit and high-fibre recipes which clearly your mother's medics are advising against at the moment.

[sistersukes]

Thanks Maria,

we're actually now starting to question the reasoning behind this low fibre restriction as there seems to be some conflicting advice. I think my mother will go by trial and error now and whilst perhaps not going for high fibre at the moment choosing food and then seeing the effect it has on her.

[T-m-c]

Hello have just read your history I had a right hemicolectomy 6 yrs ago I was fortunate not to have any other treatments or ops, am not to sure what the other part of the op your mum had . Diet wise I followed their advice but also had what I fancied in small amounts . 2 actively drinks a day were advised ,I found these OK as for high fibre that didn't work for me severe constipation for me weetabix was enough ,2 litres of plain water daily to help the food move through your system that was a must and I still do that now and just walking around the house to get everything moving . I stayed with white meat and fish, easier to digest than red, dairy in very small amounts. For me I went with trial and error cauliflower I found amazing to keep bowels working, I hope this helps

Tracy c☺

[Tina28]

She could try juicing to build up her strength and Immune System beforehand. Get a Nutribullet under £50. Advice on THE TRUTH ABOUT CANCER website has lots of advice. Good luck