Articles
Gallbladder Cancer
The gallbladder plays an important role in digestion. It stores and secretes the bile used to help digest fat and absorb fat soluble vitamins. Cancer of the gallbladder is rare and has few early symptoms. This makes it difficult to detect, and depending on the stage of development, it is often termed fatal upon detection. Surgery is imperative for survival, and may be accompanied by chemo and radiotherapy. Obesity and previous gallstone history are possible risk factors.
Dietary intervention will depend on one’s stage of gallbladder cancer and physical health pre-treatment. Symptoms such as nausea and vomiting pre-diagnosis can lead to weight loss and malnutrition prior to treatment. Invasive surgery and chemo/radiotherapy further compound these issues. A dietitian is vital in helping any cancer sufferer to ensure their diet is adequate prior to and post surgery to give their body the energy and nutrition it needs to fight and repair. Liquid food supplements are usually recommended in the case of gall bladder removal. Particular attention should be paid to the fat soluble vitamins as absorption may be impaired while the body adjusts to impaired bile secretion and fat malabsorption.
Even after removal of the gallbladder the liver still produces enough bile for fat digestion. Without the gallbladder to concentrate and store bile the liver secretes it in a leaky fashion, directly into the small intestine, at a slow and constant rate. It will take time for the body to adjust to this new manner of fat digestion, and during this time symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating and excess gas can occur after eating fatty foods. These symptoms should last only a few weeks, and if they persist it is recommended to advise a doctor.
It is recommended to avoid high fat foods for a few weeks following surgery and this is why dietetic input is important. All cancer sufferers must ensure they are consuming sufficient energy to aid in repair and recuperation and this may be difficult when avoiding fatty foods. A dietitian can help make some simple dietary adjustments in the weeks post gall bladder surgery to avoid unpleasant symptoms, whilst also ensuring optimum nutrition.
If you are feeling ready to eat normally in the weeks post surgery, it is advisable to avoid fatty foods such as fried foods, fatty meats, and full fat dairy and oily or buttery foods. The amount of fat eaten at one time will also factor into symptom development. Small amounts of fat in the GIT are easier to digest than large amounts. Eating small frequent meals containing small amounts of fats will help to prevent symptoms and also boost energy intake. Other foods that can cause discomfort include high fibre, gaseous, spicy and caffeine containing food and drinks. Adequate fibre is important, as it can help bind the stools and prevent diarrhoea. Introduce fat slowly to prevent uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating and cramping.
Added to site on : Saturday, 1 September 2012