What medicine to take for diarrhea caused by rectal cancer?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 24, 2024
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Diarrhea is a common symptom of rectal cancer. For symptomatic treatment, we can take medications such as montmorillonite powder or loperamide to alleviate diarrhea, and use probiotics like Bifidobacterium triple or quadruple live bacteria to regulate intestinal flora. However, these treatments only alleviate symptoms rather than cure the underlying disease. The key is to control the rectal cancer itself. Treating the tumor is the fundamental solution. Only when the tumor is under control will the patient's diarrhea symptoms be relieved. Otherwise, even if the symptoms are alleviated by antidiarrheal drugs, if the tumor is not controlled, symptoms including diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain will recur and may even worsen.

Other Voices

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Symptoms of rectal cancer recurrence

The symptoms of rectal cancer recurrence can include changes in bowel habits and stool characteristics, possibly presenting as rectal bleeding, increased frequency of bowel movements, a sensation of heaviness in the anus, and changes in stool shape, such as narrowing. The second symptom may be abdominal pain, particularly persistent and subtle pain. The third symptom involves palpable abdominal lumps or masses, especially with right-sided colon cancer. The fourth symptom is intestinal obstruction, which can occur if the bowel is blocked due to the recurrence of rectal cancer, leading to symptoms of intestinal obstruction. The fifth symptom, if the recurrent rectal cancer has metastasized, may lead to symptoms at the respective metastatic sites.

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Could having blood in the stool for five years be rectal cancer?

If there has been blood in the stool for five years, whether it's colorectal cancer or not, this can only be confirmed through a colonoscopy. Furthermore, pathological tissue analysis and biopsy are necessary to make a definitive diagnosis. Pathological examination is the gold standard for diagnosing cancer. If cancerous changes are present, surgical treatment should be undertaken promptly to prevent the spread of cancer cells. If there are no malignant changes, symptomatic treatment measures can be adopted. Conditions such as chronic colitis, ulcerative colitis, or hemorrhoids could also cause blood in the stool.

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Is a severely blocked anus a symptom of rectal cancer?

Is anal blockage a manifestation of rectal cancer? The answer could be yes, but it could also be due to hemorrhoids, or other diseases. The main common symptoms of rectal cancer include changes in bowel habits and the characteristics of the stool. There may be frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, or constipation, or alternating constipation and diarrhea, a sensation of anal heaviness, or associated with vague abdominal pain. Symptoms of abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and abdominal masses might also appear. When the tumor grows to a certain extent, an abdominal mass can be palpated, which might cause some compressive symptoms, possibly leading to anal blockage as one of the symptoms.

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Oncology
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What are the symptoms of rectal cancer?

Symptoms of rectal cancer include changes in bowel habits, such as a feeling of heaviness around the anus, a constant need to defecate, or diarrhea. Some patients may experience constipation, or alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation. Another common symptom is a change in the shape of the stool, with the stool becoming narrower. Additionally, abdominal pain and rectal bleeding are also common symptoms. Some patients with rectal cancer may exhibit clinical signs of intestinal obstruction, which includes constipation, inability to pass stool or gas, which means no flatulence. This is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Other common symptoms include significant abdominal pain and bloating.

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Can a colonoscopy detect colon and rectal cancer?

Colonoscopy can detect colon and rectal cancers. By conducting a colonoscopy, it can be determined whether a space-occupying lesion is in the colon or the rectum. In the workplace, it can also confirm the distance from the anus in centimeters, to guide the next steps of surgical treatment. If a colon or rectal tumor is found during colonoscopy, a pathological biopsy may be needed. Combined with the pathological biopsy, a diagnosis can be made whether the patient has colon cancer or rectal cancer. At the same time, colonoscopy can also detect other diseases, such as colon polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease of the colon, and so on.