The following are high-fiber foods that may help to relieve constipation (if you are permitted to eat them; always consult your physician or dietitian for more information): Whole-grain breads and cereals. Dried fruits. Wheat bran.
People taking chemo who have constipation should generally see a doctor if they have not had a bowel movement in 3 days . However, this duration depends on the type of chemo and the protocols at the specific cancer center.
If you can, try foods such as whole-grain breads and cereals, dried fruits, wheat bran, prune juice, fresh fruits and vegetables with the skins, legumes, such as dried beans and peas, and brown rice. Eat the skin on potatoes. Try to get some exercise every day to help prevent constipation.
Chemotherapy can damage the cells lining the intestine. This, in turn, can cause diarrhea (watery or loose stools).
Chemotherapy can cause constipation. This means not having a bowel movement often enough or having difficult bowel movements. Other medicines, such as pain medication, can also cause constipation. You can lower your risk of constipation by drinking enough fluids, eating balanced meals, and getting regular exercise.
Around the third day following a chemotherapy treatment, some people may experience flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and pains. If you experience these aches, you can take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Advil. If necessary, contact your doctor for stronger medication.
For nausea and vomiting: canned fruit, applesauce, peaches, and other soft fruit. For constipation: raw fruits, dried fruits, prune juice. For diarrhea: fruit juices, bananas, and apples as part of the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) diet.
Eating When you Have Constipation. Try these things to relieve your constipation: Do not skip meals. Avoid processed or fast foods, such as white breads, pastries, doughnuts, sausage, fast-food burgers, potato chips, and French fries.
“Bananas, when fully ripe, contain soluble fiber and thus can help treat constipation,” Lee says. “However, unripe, or green, bananas have high levels of resistant starch, which can be very binding and cause constipation.” Because of this, unripe bananas can be used to treat diarrhea, she notes.
Avoid caffeine as it acts as a diuretic and draws water out of your cells, causing you to urinate more fluid than you are consuming. Stay away from strong smelling foods to avoid aggravating any disorders of taste. Avoid fatty fried, spicy and overly sweet foods, as they may induce nausea.
For most people the side effects were worst in the first few days after treatment, then they gradually felt better until the next treatment. Some said the effects were worse with each successive treatment. Most side effects don't persist and disappear within a few weeks after the end of treatment.
Short, planned delays in chemotherapy for good-risk GCT patients (less than or equal to 7 days per cycle) appear to be acceptable since they may prevent serious toxicity in this curable patient population. Delays of longer than 7 days are strongly discouraged except in extraordinary life-threatening circumstances.
Doxorubicin is considered one of the strongest chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers, not just breast cancer. Doxorubicin is also known as “The Red Devil” because it is a clear bright red color.
The cancer / diet relationship: The following are guidelines that may lower your cancer risk: Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. 2-3 servings of whole grain bread, pastas, rice, etc. every day.
Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again. Read the resource Managing Cognitive Changes for more information about managing chemo brain.