Home Patients & Families Chemotherapy side effects Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea refers to the increased frequency and decreased consistency of bowel motions

What is diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea refers to the increased frequency and decreased consistency of bowel motions.

Certain chemotherapy drugs are more likely to cause diarrhoea than others.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and generally last for several days after treatment.

What causes diarrhoea?

There are a number of disease and treatment related factors which can cause diarrhoea. They include:

Chemotherapy drugs, particularly irinotecan, fluorouracil and capecitabine
Stem cell transplantation, as this includes high dose chemotherapy +/- total body irradiation
Graft versus host disease (occurs following stem cell transplantation)
Radiation therapy to the pelvis and/or abdomen
Patients aged over 65 years
Psychosocial issues, including stress/anxiety
Previous history of other conditions which cause diarrhoea (i.e. chronic intestinal dysmotility (CID), Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome)

What are the signs and symptoms of diarrhoea?

There are a number of different signs and symptoms associated with diarrhoea.

In addition to frequent, loose bowel motions, you may also have:

Abdominal pain and cramping
Bloating/distention
Nausea and vomiting

How can diarrhoea be prevented/managed?

Your health professionals will discuss whether you are at risk of diarrhoea. There are strategies which can help prevent diarrhoea:

Ensure you drink enough water and other beverages (avoid dairy-based fluids and drink clear fluids instead)
Report signs of dehydration, including low urine output, rapid heart rate and headache/dizziness
Modify your diet to prevent exacerbation of symptoms. Consider talking to a dietitian who can support you to manage your diet: avoid fatty/greasy and spicy foods, and raw vegetables and fruit, consume small, frequent, bland, low fibre meals (e.g. bananas, rice, noodles, white bread, skinless chicken or white fish), avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol, and limit dairy products
Ensure peri-anal area is kept clean by regularly washing with tepid water and mild soap
Apply barrier cream if your skin becomes irritated

Your doctor may prescribe medication to help you manage your symptoms. Although this medication is also available without prescription, it’s important that you discuss your situation with your care team. Your treatment regime may need to be adjusted depending on your symptoms.

When should I seek help from a health professional?

You should record the frequency of bowel movements and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or you experience:

A temperature above 38°C
Motions that are black or have fresh blood present
Dark concentrated urine
Stomach cramping or pain
Diarrhoea that does not resolve in 24 hours, or becomes severe and very frequent (more than five episodes within 24 hours)

Every patient is different, please discuss your own personal situation with your treating doctor.

Helpful Resources

Become a patient

Find out how to become a patient at Icon Cancer Centre, or request more information from your nearest centre.

Support services

A list of credible support agencies to help you through all stages of your cancer journey.

Families and carers

Helpful information on finding the right support when caring for a loved one with cancer.

Iconic Community

Our patients share their perspective and advice on receiving and coping with a cancer diagnosis.