Cancer patients are prone to constipation or diarrhea. Sometimes each symptom occurs alternately, and one symptom may persist for a long time. Why are cancer patients vulnerable to constipation or diarrhea? Let’s discuss the causes and solutions by symptoms.
Why do cancer patients tend to get constipation?
If the patient suffers from pain, the hospital prescribes ‘narcotic analgesics’. The patient is liberation from pain, but some of the narcotic analgesic ingredients slow bowel movement, so constipation occurs.
What causes diarrhea?
For the treatment of cancer, the hospital uses radiation therapy (A method of clinical medicine using high-wavelength and energetic radiation.), and anti-cancer treatment. The problem is that these cancer treatments not only attack cancer tumor but also destroy intestinal mucosa and gut cells, which cause diarrhea.
In other words, diarrhea and constipation are symptoms of a weakened bowel function during the treatment of cancer and pains.
Internal organs play a big role in our body. Not only it does “digestive functions”, but also induce bowel movements to drain the body wastes. In addition, it also produces a natural anti-cancer agent called “serotonin.”
Once bowel function is weakened by anti-cancer treatment and narcotic analgesics, cancer patients likely suffer from side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain as well as excessive detoxification of the liver. In addition, serotonin deficiency often makes your mood depressed.
So, what is the solution to constipation and diarrhea of cancer patients?
With regard to both symptoms, drinking lots of water is very important. In particular, if patients have diarrhea constantly, they could get a risk of getting dehydration, so please drink plenty of water. And to increase the intestinal flora, it is also advisable to eat probiotics. For intestinal motility and bowel health, it is recommended to consume probiotics that have specific benefits in terms of flora.
If you have severe constipation, please move your body frequently for bowel movements, but if the condition gets worse, it is recommended to take medications after consulting with a medical doctor. If you have diarrhea constantly, you may want to eat soft foods such as boiled potatoes or tofu, and due to frequent diarrhea the bottoms can be sore, so take a nice warm bath to ease the pain.
So the point is that keeping your body moving as often as you normally would, and taking plenty of water, probiotics. If you are in severe constipation, consume food that is rich in dietary fiber. For diarrhea, take less dietary fiber and choose the food that is easy to digest.
Constipation and diarrhea in cancer patients is a symptom that can occur during the treatment of cancer. Rather than worrying too much, please follow the solutions and keep your bowel healthy.
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