Key points for home care for colon cancer

In the treatment of colon cancer, colonoscopy and surgery should be performed as soon as possible in the early stages to directly remove cancerous tissue. However, the prognosis of colon cancer surgery is very good. Colon cancer surgery will not bring too many changes to life and diet. Patients should develop good and regular living habits according to their physical condition.

Colon cancer is a common digestive tract malignancy that occurs in the colon, ranking third among gastrointestinal tumors. The most common sites are the rectum and the junction of the rectum and the sigmoid colon, accounting for 65%. Most cases occur after the age of 40, with a male-female ratio of 2 to 3:1. The highest incidence rate is in the 40-50 age group. According to a world epidemiological survey, colon cancer has the highest incidence rate in North America, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other places, ranking first and second among visceral tumors, but the incidence rate is very low in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other places. The incidence and mortality rates in my country are lower than those of common malignant tumors such as gastric cancer, esophageal cancer and lung cancer. Data from various places show that with the improvement of people's living standards and changes in dietary structure, the incidence rate has been increasing year by year.

(1) There is no need to abstain from food excessively. Try to eat regularly and in fixed quantities, as long as you ensure a balanced diet. However, when trying a new food, it is best not to eat too much at one time. If there is no adverse reaction, eat more next time. Colon cancer patients should eat more easily digestible foods, try to choose light and easy-to-digest foods with fresh and hygienic ingredients, choose fresh fish, eggs, a small amount of lean meat and fresh vegetables and fruits to increase dietary fiber intake and prevent constipation. Avoid irritating and hard foods, reduce the use of condiments, and reduce the intake of moldy, fried, high-fat and other foods. Encourage patients to develop the habit of chewing slowly and eat well, eat scientifically, and eat healthily.

The patient should be given easily digestible, soft semi-fluid food, such as millet porridge, thick lotus root starch soup, rice soup, cornmeal porridge, tofu brain, porridge and egg custard, etc. These foods can reduce the stimulation to the intestine, pass through the intestinal cavity more smoothly, and prevent the occurrence of intestinal obstruction;

Eat more vegetables rich in dietary fiber, such as celery, leeks, radishes, cabbages and other green leafy vegetables. Vegetables rich in dietary fiber can stimulate intestinal peristalsis and increase the frequency of bowel movements.

(2) There are many foods that can help patients recover and prevent relapse. For example, boiled congee with red beans and coix seed can clear away heat and promote diuresis, disperse blood and detoxify. Fresh purple amaranth has the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood and dispersing blood stasis. It can be made into vegetable congee to help restore physical strength. Walnuts and lotus seeds can warm the kidneys and strengthen the spleen, thicken the intestines and stop diarrhea. Decoction of astragalus, codonopsis and licorice can also replenish qi and nourish blood.

In addition, patients with colon cancer should not eat too much fat. The total amount of fat should account for less than 30% of the total energy, and the proportion of animal and vegetable oils should be appropriate.

(3) When the sutures of the surgical incision have been removed and the incision has completely healed, you can take a bath, either in a tub or in the shower. Wear soft, loose, elastic clothing made of natural fabrics such as cotton and linen, and do not tie your belt too tight.

(4) Moderate exercise, such as walking, doing radio gymnastics, and practicing Tai Chi, can promote physical recovery, as well as promote metabolism and increase immunity. Exercise every day to maintain a healthy body, and people with stomas are no exception. Choose some exercises that are within your ability based on your preoperative hobbies and physical tolerance, but avoid strenuous exercises such as boxing and weightlifting. The amount of daily activity should be planned and adjusted according to your own tolerance, such as planning to walk twice a day, each time for 10 to 15 minutes, and gradually increase after adaptation. When you feel unwell, you should reduce your exercise relatively and do not rush. When the patient's physical strength has recovered, he or she can resume his or her previous work, but heavy physical labor should be avoided.

(5) Whether before or after surgery, it is very important for patients with colon cancer to observe changes in bowel movements. First of all, you should develop good bowel habits, that is, have bowel movements regularly every day, and do not wait until the stool is too dry and hard. Dry and hard stools will make defecation difficult and accumulate too many toxins in the intestines, which will also affect the recovery of postoperative wounds. You should also observe the color of your stool frequently. If there is blood or mucus in the stool, you should pay close attention. If you have abdominal pain, abdominal distension, cessation of bowel movements, etc., you should seek medical attention in time.

(6) People always rely on friendship and people. They make friends through daily work, attend meetings, and go to entertainment venues. However, during seasonal changes and cold days, patients who are recovering should not go to crowded public places to avoid contracting diseases and affecting their recovery.

(7) While killing cancer cells, chemotherapy drugs also have a killing effect on normal cells in the body, which can lead to a decrease in three-lineage cells (white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets) and symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, hair loss, and loss of appetite. Nutrition must be strengthened and dietary therapy must be adopted, combined with Chinese medicine to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy, while also enhancing the effect of chemotherapy. When patients experience loss of appetite, indigestion, and loose stools, they can be given foods that strengthen the spleen and stomach, such as coix seeds, radish, water shield, jujube, walnuts, carp, whitebait, loach, etc., which can strengthen the spleen and appetite, protect the digestive function, and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. If oral mucosal ulcers occur, rose flowers, rose flowers, or mulberry buds can be used to make tea.

(8) It is not enough to simply rely on the patient's own discomfort to judge whether the disease has recurred. When the patient has obstructive symptoms (i.e., difficulty in defecation), it is already in the late stage, and the effect of surgery at this time is not ideal. Therefore, after surgery, patients should strengthen follow-up, observe their bowel movements, and undergo barium angiography or fiber colonoscopy when necessary, so as to detect localized lesions early and receive timely treatment, so as to significantly improve the effect.

(9) If there is a recurrence, there is no need to be too nervous. If the general condition is good, there is no ascites, no distant metastasis, and imaging technology suggests that it is a localized lesion, then it can be treated with another surgery, and the chances of resection are higher.

(10) Although recurrence of colon cancer after radical resection can be treated with re-surgery, close monitoring is still required to avoid missing the opportunity for re-surgery. Therefore, regular postoperative check-ups should be performed every 4 to 6 months, and close follow-up should be performed for at least 2 years, after which the interval can be appropriately extended.

Considerations during colon cancer surgery

(1) When exploring the tumor after laparotomy, be gentle and do not squeeze it.

(2) During resection, the blood vessels at the root of the tumor mesentery are first blocked to prevent blood circulation and metastasis. The tumor is then freed from the root of the mesentery toward the intestine.

(3) Use a cloth band to block the intestinal tract at the site where the intestinal tract is to be cut to reduce the possibility of cancer cells implanting and metastasizing in the intestinal tract. Some people advocate injecting anticancer drugs into the blocked intestinal tract. 5-fluorouracil 30 mg/kg body weight is commonly used, diluted with 50 ml of normal saline, and the intestinal tract is separated after retaining it for 30 minutes.

(4) If the tumor is adhered to the surrounding tissue, it should be removed as much as possible.

(5) Before closing the abdomen, the abdominal cavity should be fully flushed to reduce cancer cell implantation and abdominal cavity infection

The above is some knowledge about colorectal cancer that we have prepared for you today. We hope it will be helpful to you. If you have any other needs, you can also consult our online consulting experts at Feihua Health Network. We are always here to answer your questions. Feihua Health Network is always by your side and cares about your health issues! Feihua Health Network wishes you good health!

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