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Managing Constipation while on Chemotherapy
Overview
This guide helps chemotherapy patients manage constipation, a common side effect of cancer treatment and medications like opioids and anti-nausea drugs. It provides practical strategies including tracking bowel movements, staying hydrated with 6-8 cups of fluids daily, light exercise, and using over-the-counter laxatives like lactulose, forlax, or senna with specific dosing instructions. The material clearly outlines serious warning signs requiring medical attention such as blood in stool or severe abdominal symptoms.
This article was updated in 2026.