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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 chemotherapy; radiation therapy to the abdomen; 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 (one that includes
water, weak tea, apple juice, peach nectar, clear broth, popsicles, and
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 (such as 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. If the diarrhea keeps getting better after a day or 2, 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 the section on blood
in stool.)
- Loses 5 pounds 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 when
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 back to Caring for the
Patient with Cancer at Home: A Guide for Patients and Families.
Last Medical Review: 04/27/2009
Last Revised: 04/27/2009
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