Diarrhoea During Chemotherapy: — What to Do

Not without asking your oncology team first, and particularly not during the nadir. Loperamide settles the symptom while the underlying gut inflammation continues, and during the nadir it can mask signs of serious infection that your team is watching for. If your team has already told you it is safe for you to use, follow their guidance. Otherwise, call before taking anything.

Usually chemotherapy is the cause, but not always. An infection, a change in diet, anxiety, or other medicines including antibiotics can all cause loose motions during treatment. Your team will ask questions to work out the likely cause, and the assessment may include blood tests. This is one of the reasons it matters to call rather than assume — the cause changes what the right response is.

Oral rehydration solution is a better choice than plain water alone. Diarrhoea causes you to lose electrolytes — particularly sodium and potassium — that water does not replace. ORS sachets such as Electral are available at most pharmacies in India and should be mixed with boiled and cooled water. Avoid sweet drinks, fruit juices and tea, which can make diarrhoea worse. Your team will advise on amounts based on how often you are going.

If you have a fever alongside diarrhoea, blood or mucus in your stool, or you cannot keep fluids down, go to the nearest emergency department rather than waiting. If you feel unwell in any way during the nadir and cannot reach your team, hospital assessment is the safe choice. Do not wait until the next morning or your next scheduled appointment.

Not necessarily, and the pattern varies from person to person and from drug to drug. Some people have it after one cycle and not after others. Some regimens are more likely to cause it than others. If you had diarrhoea with your first cycle, tell your team before the next one, so they can decide whether any adjustment to your supportive care plan would help.

For most people, diarrhoea related to chemotherapy eases as the gut lining recovers between cycles. How long that takes depends on the drug you are receiving and your individual response. Persistent diarrhoea that does not settle between cycles is worth reporting at your next appointment, even if it was not severe enough to warrant a same-day call. Your team can review your supportive care plan and adjust it if needed.