AFTEREFFECTS INVOLVING THE GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM: DIARRHEA. CONSTIPATION
by admin - March 12th, 2009.Filed under: Cancer. Tagged as: Cancer.
If I Have Diarrhea, What Is Causing It?
Diarrhea can be due to
• medications
• inadequate dietary fiber
• changes in your diet
• radiation changes to the digestive tract
•chemotherapy-related changes in the intestines or colon that cause poor absorption of food
•cancer-related changes in the intestines or colon that cause poor absorption
•shortened intestines from surgery
• infection in the digestive tract
• lactose (milk sugar) intolerance
If I Have Diarrhea, What Can I Do for It?
Your doctor has to determine why you have the diarrhea in order to advise treatment. If it is due to medication, your doctor may change your medication and/or add dietary fiber. If it is due to radiation changes, dietary changes and/or antidiarrhea medications may help. If diarrhea is due to infection, you may need antibiotics.
Constipation can be caused by
•medications, such as pain medications
• inadequate fluids in diet
• inadequate dietary fiber
• damage to the nervous system affecting the gut
• inactivity
•obstruction (blockage) of the lower gastrointestinal tract by a scar
What Can Be Done about Constipation?
Talk with your doctor about
• stool softeners
• increased oral fluids
• dietary fiber, if there is no contraindication
*82/32/5*
