The Effectiveness of a Low-Residue Diet on Diarrhea in Cancer Patients Receiving Pelvic Radiation Therapy

OBJECTIVES:

• Compare the nutritional status, Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) score, and fecal incontinence quality of life (FI-QOL) in patients with uterine, cervical, or prostate cancer who are undergoing pelvic radiotherapy receiving a low-residue diet vs no dietary intervention.
• Compare changes in the CTC score and FI-QOL in patients receiving a low-residue diet vs no dietary intervention.
• Compare the efficacy, in terms of a lower CTC score or higher perceived FI-QOL, of a low-residue diet vs no dietary intervention in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a parallel, randomized, controlled, pilot study. Patients are stratified according to cancer type. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

All patients are interviewed to obtain a baseline grade of diarrhea (according to NCI's Common Toxicity Criteria [CTC] scale) and dietary history and measure Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FI-QOL).

• Arm I (intervention): At the onset of diarrhea symptoms, patients are instructed to eat a low-residue diet. Patients continue on this diet for 2-4 weeks. They are interviewed weekly for up to 6 weeks to monitor dietary intake, bowel symptoms, diarrhea events, FI-QOL, and changes in CTC scores.
• Arm II (control): Patients undergo no dietary intervention but are interviewed as in arm I.