Testing Diet Intervention Versus Non-Diet Intervention for Management of Bowel Symptoms in Rectal Cancer Survivors

This phase II trial studies how a diet intervention works in improving bowel dysfunction symptoms related in colon or rectal cancer survivors. Changing a diet may be helpful in reducing the severity of bowel symptoms, including diarrhea and constipation, and improve quality of life in colon or rectal cancer survivors and help doctors learn how to help patients better in the future.

In order to participate you must meet the following criteria:

• Patients must have prior history of rectosigmoid colon cancer or rectal cancer
• Patients must have a post-surgical permanent ostomy or anastomosis
• Patient's last date of treatment for rectal cancer (any surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy) must be at least 6 months prior to registration and not more than 24 months prior to registration
• Anastomosis patients must have low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score of 21-42 (minor to major symptoms) within 5 calendar days prior to registration
• Patient must have completed all baseline questionnaires within 5 days prior to registration
• Patients must be able to read, write and speak English. Study materials and telephone calls are only available in English
• Patients with a prior malignancy or concurrent malignancy that is currently not being treated, whose natural history or treatment (in the opinion of the treating physician) does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial
• Patients who are currently undergoing treatment for another cancer will have a different symptom profile than what this study is targeting and are not eligible
• Patients who have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, are not eligible

This is a partial list of eligibility requirements. To inquire about your eligibility, please call the contact number provided. If you wish to inquire via email, please include the title of the study in your message.