What Is an Effective Constipation Diet for During Treatment?
Many people assume diarrhea is the most common gastrointestinal (GI) side effect during cancer care, but surprisingly, constipation can be more common. Some of the medications used to treat cancer and its side effects cause constipation. For this reason, you may find things aren't "flowing as smoothly" as you'd like during treatment.
Use Medications As Appropriate
If this is the case, there are many steps to alleviate constipation and re-establish regular bowel movements. The most important is to take medications as prescribed. Also important to note is that for constipation, prevention is much more effective than cure. Once you are severely constipated, it's more challenging to deal with this problem. And severe constipation can be life-threatening, so don't ignore it.
If your medical team prescribes medication to prevent constipation, do not wait until you are constipated to take it. For some cancer treatments, taking anti-constipation medications before the problem develops is part of the plan.
Constipation Diet: Using Food To Your Advantage
In addition to medical management, the following tips** and tricks will help you better manage constipation:
- While not a nutrition suggestion, it's helpful to know that physical activity can alleviate constipation. Even a short walk each day may help keep constipation at bay. Ask your doctor if it's OK for you to do some light activity, such as walking.
- Drink 8 to 10 cups of non-caffeinated fluids each day. Try water, juices, and caffeine-free tea. If you are losing weight due to treatment, stick to fluids with calories, such as juice, smoothies, and shakes.
- Drink warm liquids, such as soup or tea, especially first thing in the morning.
- Use high-liquid foods, such as popsicles and soup, to get fluid into your diet.
- Increase the fiber in your diet slowly. Try high-fiber foods such as fruit, vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, and beans and peas. If you have a lot of gas, skip the beans and peas for now.
- Snack on fiber-rich dried fruit, such as apricots, raisins, dried plums (prunes), and dates.
- Eat a breakfast that includes a warm drink and high-fiber foods, such as high-fiber cereal, oatmeal and whole grain toast.
- If you have a lot of gas, avoid carbonated drinks, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, dried beans, peas, onions, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, radishes, turnips, and watercress, all of which can cause more gas.
- Avoid straws and chewing gum, which can cause you to swallow air and feel even more bloated.
Things to Avoid with Constipation
If you have constipation, do not:
- Use a lot of force or strain hard when trying to have a bowel movement.
- Use laxative medications unless your doctor or nurse tells you to use these products.
- Eat too many foods that can worsen constipation, including cheese and chocolate.
- Use enemas or laxatives if you have a low white blood cell count, unless your doctor tells you to do so.
When Should I Call My Doctor About Constipation
- It has been more than 2 days since your last bowel movement.
- Your constipation is accompanied by a fever.
- You see blood in your stool or in the toilet after a bowel movement.
- You have used a laxative (per your doctor's instructions) and you do not have a bowel movement within 36 hours.
- Your constipation is accompanied by persistent cramps, nausea, or vomiting.
**These nutrition tips may not be appropriate for everyone. If your constipation is due to a blockage in your intestinal tract, these changes could make your condition worse. If you have questions about this, talk to your health care team right away.**
Sources
American Dietetic Association, Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. The Clinical Guide to Oncology Nutrition, 2nd Edition, 2008. Eds. Elliott L, Molseed LL, McCallum PD, Grant B.
USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. Accessed August 17, 2009. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
