Many people, in all possible age groups, have stomach or other abdominal complaints or problems with digestion. Sometimes these are clear complaints that occur with some regularity. In other cases, the complaints are somewhat vague.
For some people, it is normal to go to the toilet every day. Other people only need to go three times a week. If there are changes in the bowel movement pattern (the amount, pain or other complaints), it is important to consult your GP, healthcare provider or treatment specialist. Important complaints with a disturbed bowel movement are constipation (blockage, in severe conditions also called obstipation) and diarrhea.
Constipation
The stool is often much harder with constipation. The symptoms are often pain and in some cases the cancer or metastases cause a blockage in the intestines. A blockage with cancer can also occur due to side effects of certain medicines. It is a common side effect of some strong painkillers, such as morphine. These drugs reduce the movement of the intestines, which makes the stool harder. The longer the stool remains in the intestines, the more water is extracted from it. It is also possible that you drink or eat too little. The pancreatic tumor itself can also cause symptoms of constipation, but little exercise and being bedridden, general weakness, anxiety, stress and depression can also lead to a blockage with pancreatic cancer.
Consult your GP or specialist. Your specialist may prescribe you drugs to soften your stool again if you are being treated with ‘morphine-like’ drugs, for example. The treatment can of course also be aimed at one of the other causes of the disturbed stool pattern.
Other abnormalities of the stool
The normal color of stool is brown. This color is obtained by the waste product bilirubin, a component of bile (see jaundice). Diseases of the bile, liver or pancreas cause a greasy, sticky stool, grayish-white in color, also called ‘putty stool’. The bile pigment bilirubin can then not get from the liver into the intestine.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a sign from the body that something is wrong. Diarrhea can also be a result of pancreatic cancer. Certain tumors affect the metabolism by producing certain substances. But diarrhea can also be a side effect of the medicines that are given or of certain treatments such as chemo. During chemotherapy, the appetite can sometimes disappear. With diarrhea, a lot of fluid and sometimes energy is lost. In addition, cancer accelerates the metabolism, causing the body to use more energy.
More than 3 times a day
Diarrhea more than 3 times a day can be caused:
- due to the use of medication.
- as a result of the tumor.
- as a result of radiation to the abdominal area.
- after removal of part of the intestine, stomach or pancreas.
- through contaminated food or through infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
In case of diarrhea, always consult your specialist.