Managing Diarrhea

Diarrhea is loose, frequent bowel movements, often with bloating and stomach cramps. On top of everything else you may be dealing with, diarrhea can be very discouraging, but is a somewhat common side effect for people undergoing cancer treatment. Diarrhea can be caused by many things including medicines you are taking, foods that don’t agree with you, some natural health products such as ginseng, an infection or a separate medical problem with your bowels. There are different treatments for diarrhea. Speak with your health team who can help you manage this symptom.

The experts at Cancer Care Ontario have created a guide for people who have cancer-related diarrhea. It can be used by patients, their family, friends or caregivers as a good starting place to learn more. It does not replace advice from your health care team.