Constipation is the slow movement of stool (poop) through the large intestine. The longer it takes for the stool to move through the large intestine, the more it loses fluid and the drier and harder it becomes.
If you are constipated, you may be unable to have a bowel movement, need to push harder to have a bowel movement, or have fewer than your usual number of bowel movements. Talk to your doctor if you have constipation. Your doctor can recommend medicines and other ways for treating constipation caused by cancer and cancer treatment.
Constipation may last for a short time, or it may be chronic and last for a long time. Long-term (chronic) constipation can lead to fecal impaction or bowel obstruction, two potentially life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical care. Learn more at
What are signs and symptoms of constipation?
Signs and symptoms of constipation include:
What causes constipation in people with cancer?
Constipation in people with cancer may be caused by:
How is constipation diagnosed in people with cancer?
Finding the cause of constipation is important so you can get relief and avoid serious problems such as fecal impaction. Your doctor will do a physical exam, which will include looking at and feeling the abdomen for areas of swelling or firmness and listening to the sounds of your bowels. Your doctor may also ask questions such as:
Your doctor may be able to diagnose constipation and suggest treatment based on a physical exam and these questions. Sometimes, your doctor may need to do other tests to better understand what is causing constipation:
Ways to prevent and treat constipation
If your doctor thinks your cancer or cancer treatments will cause constipation, they will give you tips and prescribe medicine to prevent it. If you become constipated, your doctor will recommend many of these same tips and medicines to help you get relief. Talk with your health care team about what treatment is right for you.
Tips for managing constipation
What can people with cancer take for constipation?
Your doctor may prescribe medicines called laxatives that help prevent or relieve constipation. Use only medicines and treatments for constipation that your doctor recommends. Many different types of laxatives are available, and your doctor may recommend others not listed here:
Do not use suppositories (capsules you insert into your anus) or enemas (liquid medicine that you inject into your anus) unless your doctor recommends them. In some people with cancer, these treatments may lead to bleeding, infection, or other harmful side effects.
How a caregiver can help
What is fecal impaction?
Fecal impaction is a serious condition in which hardened stool blocks the colon or rectum. Unlike constipation, fecal impaction can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Long-term constipation can lead to fecal impaction, a potentially life-threatening condition in which hardened stool blocks the flow of waste through the colon or rectum. Fecal impaction requires immediate medical attention.
What causes fecal impaction?
Causes of fecal impaction include:
What are signs and symptoms of fecal impaction?
Signs and symptoms of fecal impaction include:
How is fecal impaction diagnosed in people with cancer?
Fecal impaction is diagnosed in the same way as constipation. To learn more, go to
How is fecal impaction treated?
The main treatment for fecal impaction is to moisten and soften the stool using an enema. The softened stool can then pass out of the body. Because enemas can be dangerous for people with cancer, they should be used only when prescribed and given by a doctor.
You may need to have stool manually removed from the rectum after it is softened. Laxatives are generally not used to treat fecal impaction because they may cause cramping and damage to your intestines.
Talking with your doctor about constipation
Tell your doctor or nurse if you are having constipation so you can get treatment as soon as possible. Treating constipation early can help prevent serious problems like fecal impaction and bowel obstruction. Your doctor can help you find ways to treat and manage this side effect of cancer and cancer treatment.
Questions to ask your provider about constipation:
Getting support if you have constipation
Side effects like constipation or fecal impaction can be hard to deal with, both physically and emotionally. It's important to ask for support from your health care team. They can help you prepare for and make it through difficult times. Learn more about ways to
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A bowel (intestinal) obstruction is a serious condition that occurs when the small or large intestine becomes blocked. The blockage stops food and stool (poop) from moving through the intestines. The intestine may be partly or completely blocked and can sometimes be blocked in two places. Bowel obstructions can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
A bowel obstruction may occur soon after cancer treatment ends or many months or years later. Bowel obstruction is most common in people with advanced cancer.
What causes bowel obstruction in people with cancer?
Bowel obstruction in people with cancer may be caused by:
Other causes of bowel obstruction not related to cancer or cancer treatment include a twist in the intestine, a hernia, irritable (inflammatory) bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, some medicines, long-term constipation, and other conditions.
What are the signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction?
Signs and symptoms of a bowel obstruction include:
When an obstruction starts, the intestines may be partly blocked, causing a few mild symptoms. As the obstruction gets worse, your symptoms may happen more often and become more severe. You may have frequent vomiting, extreme bloating, and intense abdominal pain. These are signs of a complete obstruction, in which stool and gas are mostly or totally blocked from leaving the body.
How is bowel obstruction diagnosed?
Finding the cause of a bowel obstruction and the place where the intestine is blocked is important so your doctor can recommend treatment. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. They may also use the following tests and procedures to diagnose a bowel obstruction and suggest treatment options:
Treating a bowel obstruction
If you have a bowel obstruction, you will need to be treated in a hospital. Treatment for a bowel obstruction depends on what caused the blockage and whether the intestines are partly or completely blocked. If you have a complete blockage, you will probably need surgery. Partial obstructions may clear up with nonsurgical treatments.
Treatment for a bowel obstruction may include:
Considerations for treating a malignant bowel obstruction
If you have a bowel obstruction caused by cancer (also called malignant bowel obstruction), talk to your health care team about available treatments and your goals of care. In most cases, treatments for malignant bowel obstructions relieve symptoms and improve quality of life but may not help you live longer from cancer. You and your family may need to make difficult decisions about your care at this time. If you choose care meant to relieve symptoms over more aggressive treatments, you can learn more about
Talking with your doctor about bowel obstruction
If you think you have a bowel obstruction, contact your doctor right away. They can help you decide on a treatment that is right for you.
Questions to ask your provider about bowel obstruction:
Getting support if you have a bowel obstruction
Side effects like bowel obstruction can be hard to deal with, both physically and emotionally. It's important to ask for support from your health care team. They can help you prepare for and make it through difficult times. Learn more about
For family members and friends who are caring for someone with cancer, you may find these
How a caregiver can help
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Diarrhea means having bowel movements (stools) more often than normal. The stool may also be soft, loose, or watery. Diarrhea is a common side effect of many cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.
When you have severe diarrhea, your body does not absorb enough water and nutrients. This can lead to serious health problems such as dehydration. Dehydration can be life-threatening, so tell your doctor or nurse if you have diarrhea.
Your doctor will find the diarrhea's cause and recommend ways to feel better, which may include medicines and food that help decrease or stop diarrhea.
What causes diarrhea in people with cancer?
Frequent diarrhea may be a sign or symptom of cancer or a side effect of cancer treatment. Causes of diarrhea in people with cancer include:
Causes from cancer and cancer treatments
Other causes
Symptoms and grades of diarrhea
Signs and symptoms of diarrhea include:
People with diarrhea may also:
Your doctor will talk with you about your symptoms to figure out the severity, or grade, of your diarrhea. Grade is based on how many bowel movements you have per day, relative to your normal number of bowel movements. Grades 1 and 2 (having up to six bowel movements above your normal daily number) can usually be managed at home, but grades 3 and 4 (having seven or more bowel movements above your normal daily number) can be life-threatening and may require treatment in a hospital.
How is diarrhea diagnosed in people with cancer?
Finding the cause of diarrhea is important so you can get relief before it interferes with your cancer treatment or causes life-threatening dehydration. Your doctor may ask questions such as:
Your doctor will do a physical exam and may also use tests and procedures to diagnose the cause of diarrhea and suggest treatment options:
Ways to treat and control diarrhea
Treatment of diarrhea in people with cancer depends on its cause and severity (grade). Your doctor may suggest changes to your diet and prescribe medications. You may also receive intravenous (IV) fluids to help replace the fluids you lost. If chemo is causing severe diarrhea, your doctor may reduce your dose or have you stop taking it until your diarrhea gets better.
Tips for managing diarrhea
Medicines for diarrhea
For severe diarrhea that happens while you are getting cancer treatment, your doctor may recommend medication. Your doctor may prescribe loperamide (Imodium) or a combination of diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomotil) to prevent or treat diarrhea. Doctors may also recommend probiotics that help with digestion and bowel function or fiber supplements (e.g., Metamucil). Check with your doctor before taking these or other medicines and supplements.
How a caregiver can help
Talking with your doctor about diarrhea
Tell your doctor or nurse if you are having diarrhea. They can help you find ways to prevent and control this side effect of cancer and cancer treatment.
Questions to ask your provider about diarrhea:
Getting support if you have diarrhea
Side effects like diarrhea can be hard to deal with, both physically and emotionally. It's important to ask for support from your health care team. They can help you prepare for and make it through difficult times. Learn more about
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Last Revised: 2024-12-11
If you want to know more about cancer and how it is treated, or if you wish to know about clinical trials for your type of cancer, you can call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-422-6237, toll free. A trained information specialist can talk with you and answer your questions.
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