Key points about constipation due to chemotherapy
- constipation is when your child is doing poo less often than usual, is having difficulty doing poo, or the poo is hard
- some medicines can cause constipation
- your child's doctor or nurse will give you a plan to try and prevent or manage constipation
What is constipation?
Constipation is when your child is doing poo, is having difficulty doing poo, or the poo is hard.
Causes of constipation during cancer treatment
Some medicines can cause constipation. It is more likely during periods when your child isn't moving much. Dehydration can also increase the chances your child will have constipation.
The chemotherapy medicine most likely to cause constipation is Vincristine.
Managing constipation during cancer treatment
Your child's doctor or nurse will provide a plan to try and prevent or manage constipation. This may include a laxative or softener. The plan will include advice on how to increase the amount of fluid and high-fibre foods your child has.
Things to look out for:
- tell your doctor or nurse if there are any blood streaks or mucus in your child's poo - it may mean there is a tear (anal fissure) that needs treatment
- tell your child's doctor or nurse if your child is constipated and you need more help or advice
- ask the dietitian or your child's doctor how much your child should drink if they are constipated
Foods and fluids that help constipation
How much fluid your child needs depends on their age. Your child's dietitian or doctor will give you advice about this.
A daily serving of one of the high fibre foods below will help your child if they are constipated:
- wholemeal bread, wholegrain bread and bran muffins
- wholegrain cereals such as Weetbix and porridge, and bran added to cereals
- all fruit and vegetables, especially with the skins left on and especially corn
- prunes, prune juice, kiwifruit and Kiwi-crush (crushed kiwifruit from the freezer section in the supermarket)
Possible complications of constipation
Hard poo can cause a tear in the back passage (anal canal), which can be painful and slow to heal and can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This may result in serious infections during periods of neutropenia.
More information about constipation
You can read some more detailed information about constipation. But remember, this information is for all tamariki (children) who are constipated, not just tamariki with cancer. It's best to check the advice with your child's doctor or dietitian.
Read some more detailed information about constipation and what to do
Acknowledgements
All the pages in the childhood cancer section of this website have been written by health professionals who work in the field of paediatric oncology. They have been reviewed by the members of the National Child Cancer Network (NZ). Medical information is authorised by the clinical leader of the National Child Cancer Network.
