Recommendations around eating before and after ovarian cancer surgery have changed a lot in recent years. In the past, doctors had been very cautious, usually recommending that patients do not ingest anything before surgery and only gradually begin to eat again after surgery.
But things are different now, according to Dr. Rachel Brightwell, a gynecologic oncologist at Austin Cancer Centers. As part of a carefully designed process called “ERAS,” which stands for “Enhanced Recovery After Surgery,” women usually receive the recommendation that they do not have any food or drink for four-to-eight hours prior to surgery — but with a key exception. About three hours before surgery, women are given a carbohydrate drink that helps to level the blood sugar during the surgery and after the surgery.
Read More“If they go back to normal, they start acting normal sooner,” she says.
Of course, every surgery and patient is different, so it’s always best to follow the specific advice of your own surgeon when it comes to approaching meals before and after surgery.
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