Constipation
As mentioned earlier, constipation alternates with diarrhea in colon cancer. Constipation is a medical disorder in which the stool is hard and dry and patient finds it difficult to pass. Constipation affects about one-half of all people with colon cancer.
Certain drugs can also cause constipation in cancer patients
- pain relievers e.g. morphine
- chemotherapy drugs such as the vinca alkaloids
- Anticonvulsant drugs
Talk to your doctor immediately so that he can find out the cause of constipation. He may ask you about your symptoms, bowel movement patterns, medicines and treatments. Digital rectal exam is also performed to get to the proper diagnosis.
Other tests to detect cancer are:
- abdominal x-ray
- colonoscopy
If you don’t have a bowel movement or facing difficulty passing a stool for two or more days, visit your nearby doctor as soon as possible. He may advise you to take adequate fluids, high fiber diet, low protein diet, physical activity and some natural laxatives.
Laxatives can stimulate bowel activity relieving the symptoms of constipation. Examples of laxatives include senna, magnesium salts (Milk of Magnesia) and lactulose. Stool softeners can also be recommended to certain patients suffering from constipation.