Constipation after chemotherapy has always been a pain that many oncology patients have experienced.
As one of the most common complications after chemotherapy, constipation does not directly affect the patient’s health, but it seriously reduces the patient’s quality of survival.
In fact, there are various factors that cause constipation after chemotherapy, and they are not solely caused by chemotherapy drugs. In general, the following factors are the main causes of post-chemotherapy constipation.
A. Why is constipation easy after chemotherapy?
1, pharmacogenic factors Many chemotherapy drugs can directly damage the gastrointestinal tract, so that the gastrointestinal motility is weakened; at the same time, many chemotherapy adjuvant drugs can interfere with neurohumoral regulation, thereby inhibiting gastrointestinal motility and cause constipation.
2.Dietary factors
After chemotherapy, patients usually have a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, picky eating, etc.. When eating too little, drinking less water and lacking dietary fiber, they cannot produce enough fecal volume and liquefied chyme, and the speed of chyme passing through the ileum will be slowed down and thus prolonged, resulting in more water being absorbed by the intestine, resulting in hardened feces and reduced defecation, causing constipation.
3, exercise and psychological factors chemotherapy patients because of physical weakness, reduced activity, mental and psychological state is often poor, defecation habits are forced to change, these are factors that aggravate constipation.
Second, how to prevent chemotherapy-related constipation?
1, diet regulation diet should be light and easy to digest, try not to be picky, a variety of rich, while increasing the dietary fiber in food and water intake, is conducive to maintaining normal gastrointestinal motor function and gastrocolonic reflex. Honey, walnuts and other laxative foods can be appropriate to eat.
2, appropriate activities according to the body, choose the appropriate physical exercise, such as walking, playing tai chi, etc.. Can also be carried out within half an hour after three meals abdominal massage, each 10min, clockwise circular massage.
3.Defecation training
Try to develop the habit of defecation on time, usually chosen after a certain meal, even if there is no intention to go to the toilet regularly to try to defecate. When defecating, do not read the newspaper or do other things, to concentrate on good defecation habits.
4.Adjustment of psychology Keep good mood, intervene and adjust as soon as possible when you are anxious and irritable.
Three, exercise and psychological factors
Chemotherapy patients because of physical weakness, reduced activity, mental and psychological state is often poor, bowel habits are forced to change, these are factors that aggravate constipation.
Do not neglect exercise even during chemotherapy!
1, choose appropriate physical exercise, such as walking, playing tai chi, etc., if you feel fatigue you need to rest.
2, can also be in three meals within half an hour after the abdominal massage, each 10min, clockwise circular massage.
Fourth, how to defecate to help relieve constipation?
Try to defecate on time, usually after breakfast, even if there is no bowel movement, go to the toilet regularly to try to defecate. Please don’t desert during defecation, such as reading the newspaper or doing other things.
In fact, defecation is detoxification, good defecation habits have an important role in the recovery of intestinal function, when the intestinal function also gradually improve, constipation will also improve accordingly.
Five, still constipated after chemotherapy, what should I do?
1.Non-pharmacological treatment
It mainly includes diet modification and lifestyle changes. In addition, it includes the application of intestinal probiotics, biofeedback therapy, electrical stimulation therapy and acupuncture and massage, etc.
2.Medication
Commonly used drugs for constipation are mainly divided into the following categories.
(1) volumetric laxatives: also known as phytolaxatives, which can increase the intestinal content volume and reflexively stimulate intestinal motility. The main ones are cellulose, agar, pectin. These drugs are not fast acting.
(2) Osmotic laxatives: By osmosis, they increase fluid in the intestinal canal and promote enhanced gastrointestinal motility, mainly including polyethylene glycol, salts, and hypertonic sugar alcohols.
(3) Stimulant laxatives: stimulate the epithelial cells of intestinal mucosa, promote the secretion of intestinal fluid and gastrointestinal motility, and shorten the time of gastric emptying, such as castor oil, senna, etc. Often used after the use of volumetric laxatives are ineffective. The effect of these drugs is strong and rapid.
(4) Lubricating laxatives: mineral oil and lipids do not biochemically react in the body, mainly to soften stool and lubricate the intestinal cavity.
It is generally recommended that oral administration is the mainstay, and oral administration conforms to the physiological characteristics of the human body. Excessive use of suppositories and enemas can lead to enteritis. Constipation due to incomplete intestinal obstruction should be treated with oral laxatives according to medical advice after the emergency is relieved.