Not only are both of them uncomfortable and a nuisance, they can be dangerous if ignored and are best taken care of as soon as possible. The more you can do to relieve or prevent them, the better off you will be. While these subjects are not often discussed openly, if you have had diarrhea or constipation related to cancer treatment and have discovered a practical action you would like to suggest to others, we would be interested in hearing from you. Please contact CancerOnline .
Effective treatment depends on finding the cause.
For the first 12 to 14 hours after an attack of diarrhea, try limiting your intake to fluids only to allow the bowel to rest. Avoid very hot or very cold things because they will cause increased muscle contractions that could make diarrhea worse. When you are feeling better, gradually add foods low in roughage and bulk, such as steamed rice, bananas, applesauce, mashed potatoes, dry toast and crackers. Then slowly add low fiber foods such as eggs, cream of wheat, cottage cheese, fish, and skinless chicken meat. Be careful when using milk and milk products because diarrhea may be caused by lactose intolerance.