Bowel changes

Surgery, radiation therapy and medicines can cause changes to the way the bowels work. These changes are usually temporary, but for some people, they are permanent and can have a significant impact on quality of life. It is important to talk to your treatment team if you are finding bowel issues difficult to manage.

Learn more about:

• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Radiation proctitis
• Blood in bowel movements
• Tips for managing bowel changes

Constipation

Constipation is when you have difficulty passing a bowel motion regularly or often. It is important to avoid constipation, especially in the days after surgery, because it may lead to more discomfort or cause you to strain when you’re sitting on the toilet.

Talk to your dietitian or doctor about making changes to your diet or taking medicines if you are experiencing constipation.

Diarrhoea 

Diarrhoea is the frequent passing of loose, watery stools (faeces) from the bowels. A dietitian can suggest changes to your diet to reduce the number of bowel motions.

Radiation proctitis 

Radiation therapy can damage the lining of the rectum, causing inflammation and swelling known as radiation proctitis. This can cause a range of symptoms including:

• blood in bowel movements
• frequent passing of loose, watery faeces (diarrhoea)
• the need to empty the bowels urgently
• loss of control over the bowels (faecal incontinence).

Talk to your treatment team about your risk of developing radiation proctitis. If you have any ongoing bowel problems, they may refer you to a gastroenterologist.

Blood in bowel movements

Blood vessels in the bowel can become more fragile after radiation therapy. This can cause blood to appear in your faeces, even months or years after treatment. Always seek advice from your specialist or GP if you notice any new or unusual bleeding.

Tips for managing bowel changes