_ Should I Take Probiotics After Appendix Cancer Surgery?

Today’s question comes from Brian in the USA:

“I am recovering from CRS and HIPEC and have had several organs removed from my digestive system. I have an ileostomy, which may be ‘reversed’ in the future. I am just beginning to eat solid foods again. Like any surgical patient, I have been receiving antibiotic therapy.

Should I take probiotics?”

PMP Pals responds:

“Patients like you have specific nutritional needs. Your question is best answered by your professional healthcare team, including your surgical oncologist, and specifically, your registered dietician.

Since you have an ileostomy, you may experience a “rapid transit” of contents from your stomach and small intestine, out through your stoma. This phenomenon is also referred to as “dumping syndrome.”

If you experience this, the benefits, if any, of probiotics, or any other supplement, may be negligible as the supplement may not remain in your digestive system long enough to be absorbed and to be effective.

Ask your registered licensed dietician to review your specific needs with you. Provide your dietician with a copy of your operative report so s/he can read exactly which portions of your digestive system have been removed and “re routed” (for lack of a better description!) to determine which foods and/or supplement may be beneficial to you.

Please refer to the Nutrition pageand the Blog Library on www.pmppals.org for numerous articles pertaining to the nutritional needs of Appendix Cancer, PMP and PSM patients."

 






Articles posted in PMP Pals and on www.pmppals.org are written from the perspective of patients and their families and are not intended to substitute for licensed, professional, legal or medical advice. Patients should seek the counsel of their licensed healthcare providers.

 Copyright © 2012 by Gabriella Graham/PMP Pals’ Network/All rights reserved.

Visit us on the web at www.pmppals.org We have HOPE for YOU!

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AR from the USA asks:

"I had CRS and HIPEC three months ago. It's time for my first post operative check up.

Should I return to the surgical oncologist who performed my surgery, or should my check up be evaluated by a local oncologist?"

PMP Pals responds:

"While it may be preferable to return to your surgical oncologist for your first, and all subsequent, post op check ups, sometimes, due to long distances, it is not practical to travel back to the cancer treatment center hospital for your quarterly check ups.

In these cases, be sure that your local oncologist (or family physician or gastroenterologist)  communicates directly with your surgical oncologist to order the specific CT (or other) scans and laboratory tests needed to monitor your post op care.

Your post op diagnostic and monitoring (scans and "bloodwork) can be performed locally, as ordered by your local physician, and can be transmitted electronically, or by postal mail to your surgical oncologist where s/he can review them, and can report back to you and your local physician as to whether additional treatment is necessary."



Articles posted in PMP Pals and on www.pmppals.org are written from the perspective of patients and their families and are not intended to substitute for licensed, professional, legal or medical advice. Patients should seek the counsel of their licensed healthcare providers. Copyright © 2012 by Gabriella Graham/PMP Pals’ Network/All rights reserved.
Visit us on the web at www.pmppals.org We have HOPE for YOU!

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