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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Would Undergoing Chemotherapy Cause Diarrhea?

well my mother in law has cancer and has under went several weeks of radiation everyday then chemo also once a week . her last chemo and radiation treatment ended last week , but she has had diarreah everyday since. she cant seem to keep anything in her stomache. she also has pain swallowing. i was wondering if u had any advice for us to give her.
Fri, 2 Jan 2015
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on HCM.
Yes chemotherapy is known to cause diarrhoea.
The common reasons are
1. Alteration of bacterial flora of gut.
2. Gastrointestinal infection.
Along with the cancerous cells, chemotherapeutic agents also damage normal bacterial flora in gut. This can cause diarrhoea.
Chemotherapy makes patient immunosuppressive so infections are more common in them. So gastrointestinal infection may be the cause.
Better to start following treatment.
1. Plenty of fluids. Keep herself hydrated.
2. Start oral rehydration solution (ORS).
3. Start probiotics to help flora.
4. Start antibiotics.
If not improve in 5 days, get done stool microscopic examination.
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Would Undergoing Chemotherapy Cause Diarrhea?

Thanks for your question on HCM. Yes chemotherapy is known to cause diarrhoea. The common reasons are 1. Alteration of bacterial flora of gut. 2. Gastrointestinal infection. Along with the cancerous cells, chemotherapeutic agents also damage normal bacterial flora in gut. This can cause diarrhoea. Chemotherapy makes patient immunosuppressive so infections are more common in them. So gastrointestinal infection may be the cause. Better to start following treatment. 1. Plenty of fluids. Keep herself hydrated. 2. Start oral rehydration solution (ORS). 3. Start probiotics to help flora. 4. Start antibiotics. If not improve in 5 days, get done stool microscopic examination.