FCRC Beyond Blue Fall 2021 - Flipbook - Page 30
Practically SPEAKING
Top 10: DIET HACKS
Q:
When learning what
to eat and what not
to eat, what’s worked
for you?
Small Portions
Be Patient
and Learn
Quantity is more important
than the specific food item.
Almost anything is OK with
1:
small portions at this point...
except corn makes me bloat
like a basketball. I am nine years past having
my rectum and part of my sigmoid removed.
Some LARS issues continue, but portion
control is my biggest key.
I'll be honest, having a
colostomy was CAKE!
Everything, to me, looked
like it digested the same. Ileostomy? Totally
different. Hash browns? No go. Tomatoes?
Don't think so. Beans? Boy STOP! Talk about a
learning curve. I've definitely become patient,
and I focus more on what I can digest.
Heather White, Stage IIIb Survivor
Phillip Alan Dawson II, Stage IV Survivor
4:
Tried Paleo
I had a resection, so when
I was able to process solid
food, I followed more of a
2:
paleo diet. I still don't do well
with raw greens or lots of
dairy. I never touch anything with nitrites, and
I cook most of my meals. Also, I had to learn
to start and end the day with water.
Paula Chambers Raney, Stage I Survivor
Keep it Simple
and Keep Trying
Eat as simple and clean as
possible,
and listen to your
5:
body. For a while I couldn’t
tolerate coffee, but after two years, I could
again! I recently cut gluten and sugar from my
diet and I’ve never felt better.
Johanna Poremba, Stage II Survivor
Adjusting the
Vegan Diet
Hemp Helps
CBD has helped me treat
nausea, dizziness, headaches,
muscle pain, and it’s helped
3:
improve my sleeping pattern.
I have become a believer in
the healing power of CBD and enjoy sharing
information and recommendations in hopes of
helping others facing similar experiences.
Maryella McKenzie, Stage IV Survivor
I was vegan before my
LAR surgery and I have
maintained it the whole time
with some adjustments. I am two years post
surgery and have a lot more variety now than I
did after the operation. I have worked hard on
my gut microbiome and I eat at regular times
of the day. I eat low FODMAP fruit, veggies,
grains, etc. A vegan diet can work—you may
have to take it slow and be careful about how
you mix your foods.
6:
Go Slow
I had some special needs due
to an ostomy, but in general
I’d
say I have learned how to
7:
eat more slowly and chew my
food more before swallowing. I drink a ton of
water, and I listen to what the doctor tells me
in regards to diet.
Scott Blitstein, Stage II Survivor
Food Diary
A food diary was vital in
helping me figure out the
best diet and tracking how
8:
my body handled certain
foods. Once I knew what
worked, I could tailor a diet specific for me.
Allison Rosen, Stage II Survivor
Skip The Spicy
Before my diagnosis, I LOVED
hot/spicy food, but once I
had my colon resection and
9:
ever since, I can’t handle
it anymore. Also with my
ostomy, I found that any fruits or veggies with
the skin were more difficult to digest.
Michael Mancini, Stage IV Survivor
Lean on
Low Residue
I ate low residue for a while
and slowly added foods to
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see how my body tolerated
them. I’ve learned to eat slowly and chew my
food well.
April Schack, Stage II Survivor
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Food can be a tricky
subject under the best
circumstances.
Add in the complications of cancer, the
holidays, AND family—you now have a
minefield that would make anyone want to
crawl under the table and hide.
Food is much more than simply fuel for
our physical bodies. Food is emotional. It’s
social. It can have deep roots in family and
cultural traditions. Humans have always
gathered to share and build social bonds
through eating. So, when something like
colorectal cancer steps in and fundamentally
changes our relationship with food,
something that was once positive can
become a real problem.
The holidays can put this issue front and
center. Not only do we navigate what our
individual systems can handle, but we have
to deal with the awkwardness and problems
that our new food restrictions can cause
with family and friends. Being the one who
can’t join in, or the person asking for specific
accommodations is really difficult. The
last thing we want to be is the one ruining
everyone else’s fun.
So, what to do?
Jacqui Weston-Cole, Stage I Survivor
FODMAP: A diet containing few
sugars that lead to intestinal distress.
Ask your doctor before trying a lowFODMAP diet.
HOLIDAY Eating
Look Within Yourself
First, look within yourself. You are responsible
for one person: yourself. Let go of worrying
about how other people might think or feel:
That’s not your job. Taking care of our needs
requires us to tell others what those needs
are. Remember the part in the safety speech
on the airplane that says, “If the oxygen mask
drops down, put on your own mask before
assisting others.” The same thing applies here;
your responsibility is first to yourself.
Let Others Help
Family and friends want to help. Cancer is
also really difficult for caregivers because
so frequently there isn’t anything they can
do. So actually, they’re happy to know that
making some accommodations can help you.
Communicating your needs won’t only help
you, but it allows those around you to know
what to do. Otherwise, they will be guessing,
and that’s a recipe for problems.
let others in and allow them to help. Don’t be
afraid to say “No.” Imagine a friend of yours is
struggling, but you don’t really know why or
how to help. What if they honestly shared how
they’re feeling and specifically what you could
do to help? What a relief! Communication
opens up connections.
Remember: It’s your job to
take care of yourself and get
your needs fulfilled. Keep in
mind that even though it may
be awkward, specifically
letting people know what
you need will actually help
connect you and make the
holiday gathering much
more fun for everyone.
Connect
Clearly communicating your needs allows
you to connect. Cancer can be so isolating.
We’re trapped in our own terrible experience
while those around us go on with normal life.
How do we bridge the gap and reconnect?
Communication. By honestly sharing, you will
SCAN TO READ
Food Myth Busters
Read our Fact or Crap Food Guide for
patients in and out of treatment! Learn
more about what's true and what's false
when it comes to food and cancer.
FOLLOW CHAD!
@chadthepsycho_therapist
CHAD LATTA, MA
Shrink, professor at Metro State University (Denver, Colorado), painter,
BJJ black belt, USMC vet, stage III survivor, and frickin’ hilarious
Join the Fight at FIGHTCRC.ORG
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