5 ways to help lung cancer patients relieve constipation after chemotherapy

Lung cancer patients often experience constipation during chemotherapy, which is mostly caused by a variety of reasons such as not eating enough, too refined food and lack of fiber, lack of activity, use of anesthetics, and mental stress. In addition, patients often have symptoms such as loss of appetite and abdominal distension while constipated. Lung cancer patients who experience constipation during chemotherapy may try the following methods to relieve it.

Exercise

If your condition permits, you may want to get out of bed and move around. If your physical condition allows, you can also do some housework within your reach. This will not only enhance your self-care ability, increase gastrointestinal motility, and improve constipation, but also divert your attention from the disease and disperse your nervousness.

Regular toilet breaks

Even if constipation occurs, patients can go to the toilet on time to induce defecation according to their previous bowel habits.

Supplement fiber-rich foods

Cellulose can promote intestinal peristalsis and defecation. Therefore, lung cancer patients with constipation may wish to eat more foods rich in fiber, such as celery and leeks. In addition, patients should eat more fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains, drink more water, and especially insist on drinking 200 ml of boiled water every morning after getting up (preferably cold boiled water, if the body is not used to it, you can drink warm water), which can effectively lubricate the intestines and improve constipation.

Take brief measures

If the patient has not had a bowel movement for three consecutive days, then the patient should consider taking some measures, such as using laxatives or enema. If the stool is dry and hard, oil retention enemas can be used to soften the stool and promote defecation, or the nursing staff can perform artificial defecation.