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Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the passage of loose or watery stools 3 or more times a day with or without discomfort. It happens when the water in the intestine is not being absorbed back into the body for some reason. Sometimes diarrhea can be caused by an overflow of intestinal liquids around stool that is lodged in the intestine (impaction). Other causes can include side effects of chemotherapy, radiation therapy to the abdomen, or medicines; infections; surgery; anxiety; supplemental feedings that contain large amounts of vitamins, minerals, sugar, and electrolytes; and tumor growth. Diarrhea caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy may last for up to 3 weeks after treatment ends.

What the patient can do

  • Try a clear liquid diet (water, weak tea, apple juice, peach nectar, clear broth, popsicles, gelatin with no solids added) as soon as diarrhea starts or when you feel that it’s going to start. Avoid acidic drinks, such as tomato juice, citrus juices, and fizzy soft drinks.
  • Eat frequent small meals. Do not eat foods that are very hot or spicy.
  • Avoid greasy foods, bran, raw fruits and vegetables, and caffeine.
  • Avoid pastries, candies, rich desserts, jellies, preserves, and nuts.
  • Do not drink alcohol or use tobacco.
  • Avoid milk or milk products if they seem to make diarrhea worse.
  • Be sure your diet includes foods that are high in potassium (bananas, potatoes, apricots, and sports drinks such as Gatorade® or Powerade®). Potassium is an important mineral that you may lose if you have diarrhea.
  • Monitor the amount and frequency of bowel movements.
  • Clean your anal area with a mild soap after each bowel movement, rinse well with warm water, and pat dry. Or, use baby wipes to clean yourself after each bowel movement.
  • Apply a water-repellent ointment, such as A&D Ointment® or petroleum jelly, to the anal area.
  • Sitting in a tub of warm water or a sitz bath may help reduce discomfort.
  • Take medicine for diarrhea as prescribed by your doctor.
  • When the diarrhea starts to improve, try eating small amounts of foods that are easy to digest such as rice, bananas, applesauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes, low-fat cottage cheese, and dry toast for a day or two. If diarrhea keeps getting better, start small regular meals.

What caregivers can do

  • See that the patient drinks about 3 quarts of fluids each day.
  • Keep a record of bowel movements to help decide when the doctor should be called.
  • Check with the doctor before using any over-the-counter diarrhea medicine. Many of these contain compounds that are like Aspirin, which can worsen bleeding problems. Talk to the doctor about using a prescription medicine.
  • Check the anal area for red, scaly, broken skin. If present, see the section on skin sores.
  • Protect the bed and chairs from being soiled by putting pads with plastic backing under the buttocks where the patient will lie down or sit.

Call the doctor if the patient:

  • has 6 or more loose bowel movements a day with no improvement in 2 days
  • has blood in or around anal area or in stool (see section on blood in stool)
  • loses 5 lbs or more after the diarrhea starts
  • has new abdominal pain or cramps for 2 days or more
  • does not urinate for 12 hours or more 
  • does not drink liquids for 48 hours or more
  • has a fever of 100.5° F or higher, taken by mouth
  • gets a puffy or swollen belly
  • has been constipated for several days and then begins to have small amounts of diarrhea or oozing of liquid stool, which could suggest an impaction (severe constipation)

Go to a list of symptoms to find other problems in Caring for the Patient with Cancer at Home: A Guide for Patients and Families.

Revised: 04/07/08

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