Eating well during radiation near the stomach or gut

This page is for people getting radiation to the abdomen (belly) or pelvis. It covers which foods may help, which to avoid, and how to keep eating enough.

Radiation is aimed. When the aim falls over the abdomen or pelvis, the digestive organs are nearby, and that is where the food-related side effects come from.

NCI's Eating Hints booklet says radiation to the abdomen or pelvis can cause diarrhea and nausea. It also notes that diarrhea can lead to dehydration (too little water in the body).

Not everyone gets all of these, and severity varies a lot. But knowing the list means you can recognize what is happening instead of wondering whether something has gone wrong.

The booklet's suggestions include:

• low-fiber foods such as plain or vanilla yogurt, white toast and white rice
• 5 or 6 small meals a day instead of 3 large ones
• plenty of fluids, such as water, ginger ale or sports drinks
• foods and drinks with sodium and potassium, such as broth, bananas and baked or mashed potatoes
• foods and drinks at room temperature

The pattern is low fiber, small amounts, and plenty of fluid.

Plain is not boring here. Plain is the point.

The booklet names several things that can make diarrhea worse. Two of them are:

• foods high in fiber, such as whole wheat breads and pasta
• greasy, fatty or fried foods, such as french fries and hamburgers

The second group tends to be the harder one to give up, because fried food is often exactly what an unsettled stomach seems to want. The booklet also lists spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, and milk products unless they are low-lactose or lactose-free.

Some people having radiation deal with a sore mouth at the same time. The booklet's suggestions for that include soft foods such as milkshakes, scrambled eggs and custards, and avoiding citrus fruits and juices such as oranges, lemons and lemonade.

The booklet's tips for a sore mouth also help here: soft foods such as milkshakes, scrambled eggs and custards, cutting food into small pieces, and pureeing foods using a blender or food processor. Tell your care team if swallowing is hard.

A blender is very useful during this time. It turns meals you already like into something you can actually get down.

The booklet says to call your doctor if vomiting is severe or lasts more than 1 or 2 days. It also says to tell your doctor or nurse if your rectal area is sore or bleeds. The booklet says to tell your doctor if diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours, or if you have pain and cramping. It also says your doctor needs to know if you cannot keep liquids down. Do not take medicine for diarrhea without asking your doctor or nurse first. If you cannot keep fluids down or feel faint, call your team right away.

The overall aim during radiation is not a perfect diet. It is enough food, taken in whatever form your body will accept that week.

If eating is becoming a daily struggle, ask about seeing a dietitian. Cancer centers often have one, and they are used to solving exactly this problem: helping someone eat enough when their gut is upset for a while.

Bring specifics to that conversation: which foods you have tried, what happened, what time of day is worst. That gives them something to work with beyond general advice.