Bowel Changes: The Return of Side Eff@¢ks
Cancer treatments can be rough on the gut. The symptoms during and after treatment are no laughing matter (although well-timed potty humor can certainly be therapeutic, don't you think?).
In this episode, Tina and Leah talk poop, that is, about the fundamentals of bowel function with an emphasis on the many ways that cancer treatments can interfere with it.
As naturopathic physicians, Tina and Leah have spent their entire careers talking poop with patients. Why? Because most gut issues have to do with bowel function. Understanding the functions of the various organs involved in your digestion can help you address—and resolve— uncomfortable and unpleasant poop issues.
Get the scoop! This episode is followed by two more in this pod: Episode 24 is about constipation and Episode 25 is about diarrhea.
If you like what you hear, pass it on...
Links we mentioned on this episode and other cool stuff:
Overview of treatment-related constipation
Overview of treatment-related diarrhea
Tracking form and one-page review on diarrhea from ASCO
Special management of diarrhea from immunotherapies (ie, checkpoint inhibitors)
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02:38 - Digestion- an overview by system
06:01 - Surgery- effects on bowel function
07:12 - Chemotherapies- effects on bowel function
09:55 - Immunotherapies- colitis / diarrhea
10:19 - Official definitions- diarrhea & constipation
12:33 - Radiation- effects on bowel function
14:29 - Cancer- direct effects on bowel function
16:21 - Medications that may lead to constipation or diarrhea
17:35 - Anti-nausea MEDS- a cautionary tale
20:10 - Other medications that lead to constipation or diarrhea
22:10 - Supplements that affect bowel function
27:12 - Lifestyle measures to maintain GI health
30:56 - After treatment- Survivorship and GI challenges
33:44 - Wrap-up- The unofficial theme song announced