D&V at night following colon cancer

Former Member
Former Member
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My mum had most of her large colon removed last summer. She’s managed quite well until recently, when she’s complained of stomach pain and diarrhoea and vomiting at night. This has happened about 4 times over the last couple of months. There doesn’t seem to be infection (stool test). Her chemo was stopped a few months ago as she was unwell with it. The cancer has spread to her liver and she is due for surgery to remove the tumour next week. I wondered if she is eating too much in the evening? Could this be a symptom of the liver cancer?

  • Hi,GardenersDelight3

    I’m Keith one of the Cancer Information Nurses Specialist’s on the Macmillan Support Line.

    On this platform it can be difficult to give the definite reasons for the symptoms your mum is experiencing right now.

    In a situation like this we would always advise to contact your mum’s treatment team to have any new or worsening symptom reviewed as soon as possible. As nausea and vomiting as well as stomach pain and diarrhoea can be caused by so many different things.

    With having part of the bowel removed it can affect the digestive tract and can cause symptoms such as feeling sick and stomach pains and diarrhoea but may be  a possible sign of an infection .Although you did mentioned that the stool sample came back negative .

    It could be something she is eating or a delayed side effect of her treatment .Keeping a food dairy may be worthwhile to see if there is any pattern in relation to when and what she is eating .

    It may also be caused by the liver cancer as the symptoms you have mentioned may  also be caused by this.

    Whatever the cause  its important that this is managed and assessed as soon as possible and you mum’s treatment team would be best placed to  investigate this to find the cause and secondly manage this to keep your mum as comfortable as possible.

      If you think it may help further to talk things through why not give us a call or contact us via webchat.

    Take care

    Keith

     

    Ref KM/DT