Lifestyle Guide for Patients with Colorectal Cancer

<< Lifestyle Guide for Patients with Colorectal Cancer >>

1. Fatigue - Eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods that contain protein, vitamins, and other nutrients. When taking naps, keep them short enough that they do not interfere with getting enough sleep at night.

2. Nausea and vomiting - Open a window to ventilate the room and breathe fresh air. If you feel nauseous, relax and slowly take deep breaths. Symptoms may worsen due to constipation, so it is best to manage it in advance.

3. Stomatitis - Keep the mouth clean to help prevent it, and using dental floss is helpful. If mouth pain is severe and you cannot eat, soft and cold foods such as ice cream, jelly, and pudding may help. Eat soft, moist foods such as cooked grains, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs. Use a straw or cup, and avoid spicy, salty, or strongly seasoned foods.

4. Diarrhea - Eat small meals frequently and drink enough fluids. For prescribed antidiarrheal medicine, take 2 tablets at the first sign of diarrhea, then 1 tablet every 2 hours or 2 tablets every 4 hours, up to 8 tablets a day.

5. Infection - White blood cell levels usually drop the most about 7 to 14 days after chemotherapy injections, increasing the risk of infection. Wash your hands well at all times and avoid contact with people who have infectious diseases.

6. Hair loss - Do not wash your hair roughly. When drying it, be gentle and keep it clean.

<< Daily Life for Radiation Therapy Patients >>

• In cases of advanced rectal cancer, radiation therapy is given for 6 weeks before surgery, and chemotherapy in the form of medication or injections is also given during that period. Do not erase the red line marked on the treatment area until the treatment is finished.

• It is recommended to wear soft cotton underwear if possible. If there is skin damage due to radiation exposure, avoid hot water and exposure to sunlight. Do not use any kind of ointment or cosmetics on the treatment area without a doctor's instructions.

<< Daily Life for Surgical Patients >>

• After surgery, perform deep breathing, coughing, clearing phlegm, and chest percussion to expand the lungs and prevent phlegm from accumulating. Starting the day after surgery, slowly change positions and begin walking exercises.

• In the case of open surgery, an abdominal binder helps protect and support the surgical site, so wear it when walking or being active for about one month.

• For walking, take light walks for up to 30 minutes at a time, at least 4 times a day, and gradually increase the amount of exercise as you recover.

• Depending on the site of bowel resection, frequent diarrhea may cause soreness and pain around the anus. After bowel movements, it is better to wash with water using a shower head rather than toilet paper. Soap is irritating, so it is best not to use it. If necessary, a sitz bath in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes immediately after a bowel movement may also be helpful.

<< Diet for Patients with Colorectal Cancer >>

Treatment for colorectal cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, either alone or in combination. Nutritional problems vary somewhat depending on the treatment, so an appropriate dietary plan should be followed accordingly. After colorectal cancer surgery, nutritional problems such as gas formation, diarrhea, sodium imbalance, and fluid imbalance may occur. In the case of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, changes in taste, stomatitis, and diarrhea may appear.

The nutritional goal for patients with colorectal cancer is to help patients adapt well to meals according to their individual nutritional needs, thereby preventing and treating various nutritional problems such as malnutrition, weight loss, malabsorption, diarrhea, and electrolyte imbalance that may occur after surgery, and alleviating treatment-related side effects.

<< Ostomy Care for Patients with Colorectal Cancer >>

• An ostomy is an outlet created by surgery and a bypass route for removing stool. An ostomy is part of the body; it is made by bringing part of the small or large intestine through the abdominal wall and suturing it to the skin. Its normal color is red, and because it has no nerves, it does not hurt when touched.

• When stool is loose, as with an ileostomy or transverse colostomy, skin irritation is greater. If skin damage occurs, clean the skin around the stoma thoroughly, apply ostomy powder, shake off any excess powder, apply or spray a skin-protective film, and then attach the pouching system.

• Discomfort around the anus: In the case of a temporary ileostomy, discomfort around the anus may occur immediately after surgery, and this may be relieved through sitz baths while also promoting wound healing. If you have had surgery to close the anus, sitz baths are not necessary, and hardness around the anus may persist for several years. In such cases, using a sponge cushion or avoiding sitting for long periods may help, and this problem may resolve over time.

• Showering/bathing: You may bathe as you did before surgery. If you remove the ostomy pouch before bathing, you can rest assured that water or soap will not harm the stoma and water will not enter the stoma.

• Activities that increase abdominal pressure should be avoided. When traveling, prepare extra supplies. Since changing water may increase the risk of diarrhea, prepare water you are familiar with in advance or drink commercially available bottled water.

• Work: As your strength returns, you can return to your previous job without much difficulty. However, it is better to avoid lifting heavy objects or sitting for long periods.

• Married life: Sexual function varies by individual depending on age, physical condition, and chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Understanding each other with your partner, creating a comfortable atmosphere, changing positions, and using assistive devices such as a small pouch or stoma cap, pouch covers, etc., may also be helpful. The ostomy itself is not a factor that prevents pregnancy, but consult your doctor.

• How to purchase ostomy supplies & insurance coverage: Ostomy barriers and pouches can be covered by medical insurance at the hospital. (4 per week) Up to 6 months’ worth of ostomy supplies may be prescribed and received by courier. Insurance-covered skin protection accessories include powder (up to 60 g per year), skin protection ointment (60 g per month), and protective barriers (1 per week), and they can also be purchased at external medical supply stores.

Source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency National Health Information Portal / National Cancer Information Center