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Symptoms
People with constipation may experience the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Appetite loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Inability to urinate
- Confusion
Causes
Constipation can result when the body begins absorbing more water or
begins signaling food to move through the bowel system more slowly. The
following cancer-related factors and cancer treatments might also cause
constipation:
- Medications, including
antacids; some drugs to treat nausea and vomiting, seizures,
depression, diarrhea, or blood pressure; iron supplements; some
chemotherapy drugs; and pain medications
- Eating less food
- Bowel obstruction
- Dehydration
- Immobility (lack of
movement)
- Tumor compression
(cancer pressing on the spinal cord)
- High levels of calcium
in the blood
- Low potassium levels
- Thyroid problems
- Diabetes
Diagnosis
In planning treatment for constipation, the doctor may do a rectal
examination to make sure you don't have a tumor obstructing your rectum
and to determine whether there is hard stool in your rectum. The doctor
may also ask you about the following:
- Your bowel habits,
before the cancer and now
- Use of medications that may
cause constipation
- Recent food and fluid
intake
- Other diseases or
illnesses
Treatment
It is very important to treat constipation properly. If it is left
untreated, constipation can cause internal damage to the intestine or rectum,
dehydration, or bowel obstruction. It can also slow the body's absorption
of medications taken by mouth. The following suggestions can help control
constipation:
- Drink more fluids.
- Take laxatives, given
either by mouth or through the rectum.
- Change the dose or stop
medications that cause constipation (under the supervision of your
doctor).
- Eat more fiber or take psyllium or methylcellulose to add fiber to your
diet.
- Increase physical
activity, if possible.
- Have an enema or rectal
suppository.
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