Bowel movements

Hello Dolphin67,

I had a year of what you are enduring prior to being diagnosed with cancer and over the counter Loperamide tablets made a difference. Avoid the big brand names as they are expensive and the cheaper versions are the same thing.

My oncologist warned me of the diarrhoea getting worse once the 5 weeks chemoradiotherapy course commenced prior to surgery for rectal cancer. It is a common side effect, it seems. He recommended that I have a loop ileostomy before treatment started because he believed I wouldn't be able to manage the constant diarrhoea - particularly when travelling each day for these critical appointments. He was right and for other reasons I decided to keep the ileostomy post-surgery. It works a treat and life is pretty much back to normal. Presumably a lot depends on the nature of the tumour and the bigger picture that the experts discuss at the MDT meetings.

Meanwhile you have the sympathy of us all, I am sure and it sounds as if you will be on the road to recovery before too long. One other thing: make sure you drink plenty of water each day to rehydrate and replace the fluid you are losing.

Best

Dulac