Hello Polly26,

Thanks for posting a question although it might be a good idea to get in touch with your medical team if you can, as they'd be the right people to advise you on which vegetables you can add to your diet as they're familiar with your treatment.

Also, if you'd like to give our cancer nurses a call and ask these questions, feel free to ring them on their telephone number 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Best wishes,

Renata, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Polly, 

you may find that you can have more than you realise once you see the nutritionist. Have thay mentioned fruit like kiwi? It’s got lots of fibre and can help you go without straining. There is a Macmillan diet booklet that may help you too and consolidate what your dietitian will tell you. Don’t dispare though there will be something for you. 

Ricaroo1

Hi Ricaroo1

Many thanks for replying to me, I am still waiting for my nutritionist appointment. I have a  diet book but it does not apply fully to me. I had had my 2nd chemo about 6 weeks ago, and unfortunately it imflamed the bowel so much I ended up in hospital for a week (caused a partial blockage), and from then on I have not been able to eat solid food, and I dont know what is fully safe to eat fibre wise, I have been told I cannot have bread, brocolli (which I understand) i have mashed carrot and swede, my weight is going down fairly quickly.

I really should have been referred straight away. I am again going to chase it up, even though I know its in hand.

thanks again

Polly

I had a colostomy and mucus fistula in June and have had to have the colostomy redone twice since. I've had loss of appetite and changed taste since I started chemo in Oct 16. Until recently I've lived on mostly chicken soup and prescribed Ensure drinks.

The only vegetables I've ate so far, as I try to start eating properly again, are the bits in Heinz minestrone soup. I used to love toast and would eat 6 slices at a time but haven't been able to stomach it until a week or two ago.

Most days I'll have macaroni cheese on 2 slices of toast and it makes me feel immediately better for a minute or two.

I've had fish and chips. A small portion. I've found that any potato, however prepared, constipates me and causes abdominal pain and constipation. Maybe a temporary blockage, I'm not sure.

I can eat crackers and cheese and little bits of meat.

One trick, apparently, is to chew everything to destruction. Fairly onerous when doing it with every mouthful but I theorise that I should be able to eat virtually anything, if I have small enough portions and chew everything religiously.

I've always liked veg to be cooked to softness so eating out can be a problem, with the fashion for virtually raw veg. And I've never liked or eaten salad. I've never been one for overly spiced food either, apart from salt, which people on a lousy diet are supposed to have a bit more of.

I understand that many people like to eat a balanced diet and will like a lot of veg that I don't but quality of life and calories is all.

I say eat what you like, however unhealthy it would normally be seen. If you like and can tolerate cream cakes, for example, eat as many as you want and can tolerate a day. I actually had a small tin of baked beans the other day, supposedly a no no.

One thing about veg and fruit - don't eat skins. Very bad.

Well, that was a rather long stream of consciousness; hope you can pick out something that might be of help.

Best Regards

Taff

Hi taff

Thanks for answering my post, and I like you chew everything for ever, then everything else goes cold. I have been eating chocolate eclairs , as we don't have to worry about calories. I have been instructed not to eat bread until I have seen a nutritionalist. I am eating some fruit, just peeling them. I find spaghetti better to digest than potatoes. Good luck with your treatment. Polly