Why does constipation occur after chemotherapy for cancer? What should I do if constipation occurs? A detailed answer in one article

At present, more and more patients are suffering from tumors. The most important treatment method for tumors is chemotherapy. We all know that chemotherapy has many side effects, and constipation is one of the most common side effects.

According to relevant literature reports, the probability of patients experiencing constipation after chemotherapy is approximately 16%-48%. If patients take antiemetics at the same time as vomiting, the probability of constipation will be as high as 90%.

What are the causes of constipation after chemotherapy? How can it be relieved or resolved?

Causes of constipation after chemotherapy

1. Drug factors

**1. Chemotherapy drugs. ** Chemotherapy drugs have strong cytotoxicity. They not only target tumor cells, but also normal cells. They can easily cause vomiting, nausea, dry mouth, bitter mouth, etc. in patients. They can also easily cause poor appetite in patients, which in turn reduces water intake and makes stool dry and difficult to pass. Common chemotherapy drugs that can easily cause constipation include: paclitaxel, carboplatin, 5-fluorouracil, etc.

**2. Treatment aids. **Including opioid analgesics and antiemetics. Some cancer patients may have pain all over the body, and opioid analgesics will be used to relieve pain. Opioid analgesics will slow down the peristalsis of the intestines. Cancer patients are prone to vomiting after chemotherapy, and antiemetics will be used for treatment. The mechanism of action of antiemetics is to inhibit the peristalsis of the digestive tract. The combination of the two will aggravate constipation.

2. Psychological Factors

Cancer patients are affected by the disease and often experience negative emotions such as anxiety and tension, which leads to muscle tension throughout the body, causing contradictory movements of the anal sphincter during defecation and causing constipation.

3. Sports Factors

Cancer patients are often physically weak, and their weakness will worsen after chemotherapy, leading to reduced or even no exercise, which also slows down intestinal motility and causes constipation.

4. Dietary factors

In order to improve nutrition, cancer patients often have a fine diet during their illness. In addition, their appetite decreases, which greatly reduces their dietary fiber intake, causing gastrointestinal motility to slow, the speed at which chyme passes through the gastrointestinal tract to slow, water absorption to increase, and constipation to occur.

V. Other factors

Some patients, due to the influence of the environment, will resist the urge to defecate during hospitalization. Over time, the defecation reflex weakens or even disappears, aggravating constipation.

What should I do if I experience constipation after chemotherapy?

1. Improve diet and balance nutrition

When cancer patients experience mild constipation after chemotherapy, they can start by adjusting their diet if their condition permits. While ensuring high protein and energy intake, they can also increase the intake of dietary fiber, such as coarse grains, vegetables and fruits. The dietary principle is to eat small meals frequently and drink plenty of water to promote gastrointestinal motility and relieve constipation.

2. Adjust your mental state

Whether it is cancer patients or patients with other diseases, we emphasize adjusting the mentality during treatment. Being in a state of tension and anxiety for a long time is not only not conducive to the condition, but also not conducive to treatment, especially for cancer patients. Therefore, family members should communicate more with patients to help them adjust their mental state and face it positively and optimistically, which is conducive to the control and treatment of the disease.

3. Exercise moderately

Many patients and their families believe that patients are weak after chemotherapy and need to "rest in bed". In fact, this understanding is not quite accurate. Sitting still for a long time and lack of exercise are not only not conducive to the condition, but also cause or aggravate the patient's tension and anxiety in the long run, aggravating the condition. Therefore, if the condition allows, according to the patient's physical condition, you can do some exercise in moderation, such as slow walking, Tai Chi, etc.

IV. Drug Treatment

Patients who experience constipation after chemotherapy can receive medication according to their condition, go to the hospital in time, and follow the doctor's advice.

Cancer patients are more likely to experience constipation after chemotherapy. Patients and their families should have a correct understanding and view of this issue, and must actively respond and deal with it according to the patient's own condition, which will be beneficial to the control and treatment of the disease.