Types of bowel changes you
might experience:
diarrhoea
constipation
bloody stools
bloating, gas and abdominal pain
sensitivity to certain triggers (spicy foods/seeds and nuts)
feeling an urge to have a bowel movement (poop), but not being able to
feeling that your bowels haven’t emptied properly
Taking
charge
If you’re having bowel issues, don’t be afraid to speak up. Your doctors are there to help you and can prescribe a treatment tailored to your needs.
Here are some ways to take control:
Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. If you’re having trouble with frequent trips to the bathroom, this will help get you back to normal from constipation. Fluids will also rehydrate you after having diarrhoea.
Avoid or decrease your intake of spicy and greasy foods, as well as coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and alcohol (these are all drinks that can irritate your digestive system).
If you have occasional urgent bowel movements, try keeping a food diary for a while. This might help you see connections between the foods you eat and the urgency of bowel movements.
Manage the stress of your side effects in a way that works for you. For some, that’s taking a quiet walk alone. For others, it’s doing breathing exercises or meditation. Find something that brings you a sense of calm and revisit it as often as you need.
If you’re losing control of your stools, give yourself some sense of security by having extra clothes available, in a gym bag, in your car or at your workplace.
If you are having any issues with bloody stools, there are a few things for you to consider:
Tell your doctor and make sure you’re up to date on your recommended colonoscopy screening.
Rectal bleeding gets worse when you’re constipated. Stay hydrated, and eat easy to digest high fibre food.
Hemorrhoids can be inside the rectum where you cannot see them or external under the skin around the anus. Straining with bowel movements can make both kinds of hemorrhoids flare and bleed. Though they’re not uncommon, you should tell your doctor what you’re experiencing.
Talk to your doctor, nurse
or care team
If your bowel issues are bothering you and preventing you from doing your usual daily activities, speak to your doctor. This could be your family doctor, or doctor that’s been treating the cancer (such as a urologist or radiation oncologist). Your doctor may prescribe medications to help with either constipation or diarrhoea. You can also speak with a nurse (a continence nurse specialist, if available) about getting help.
Look for continence services
and resources online
The
is a good place to start to learn about bladder and bowel problems. You may qualify for a to help with the cost of supplies.Know where to
find a washroom
To help ease your mind and to make sure you know where to find a washroom when you’re out, there are smartphone apps that you can use to find the washroom nearest you, such as GoHere: Washroom Locator and Flush: Toilet Finder and Map.
