Not a Pleasant Topic - Diarrhea - Radiation

Different Ballgame
Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
This is not a pleasant subject but I have sporadic changes with stool throughout a week. Stool is absolutely normal, then changes to not being formed, then changes to a form of diarrhea. Other than that, I feel great. I asked radiation oncologist and she said that is not a side effect to the breast being radiated. I told her more than once since I continued to have the problem. I discussed this with my primary care doctor who said to observe it a little longer, then call him. I am ready to call him back but before I do, I want to know if anyone else has ever experienced this. (Had a colonoscopy in July 2009 - normal.)

Yesterday I saw a post on constipation but it was related to chemo. That post made me think to do this post.

Has anyone had what I best describe as both normal and irregular stools throughout a week?. It's a yo-yo. Radiation was finished on January 18 (31 treatments). First actual diarrhea started January 6.

I’m the one whose buttocks ached first when the area of her breasts (tissue expanders) developed infection --- left breast 5 weeks after mastectomy and right breast 7 weeks after mastectomy.) If you want to laugh, read my post I Bet You Never Had This Reaction.

I hope I am not alone on this one.

Janelle

Comments

  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #2
    I have not had radiation
    I have not had radiation yet. but my bowels have been all over the place with chemo. now off chemo and constipated. during chemo more D. nothing os regular or normal
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    #3
    Also haven't had radiation
    yet, but did have problems like yours with chemo.

    Have you tried Activia yogurt? It really helped with the problems I was having. My second and third chemos were much easier because of that.

    Good luck,
    Cindy
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #4
    cindycflynn said:

    Also haven't had radiation
    yet, but did have problems like yours with chemo.

    Have you tried Activia yogurt? It really helped with the problems I was having. My second and third chemos were much easier because of that.

    Good luck,
    Cindy

    Hi Jannelle,
    Never had radiation but certainly the big "D". A friend gave me Probifia Pearls to keep the colon happy. And mine's been "happy" since the beginning of the year.

    Good luck, hope it gets better.

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #5
    Didn't have........THE BIG D
    Janelle, I had 33 radiation treatments.........no BIG D with it though....did have it after my first chemo, big time! Have you changed your diet at all? What medications are you taking? Anything new or different that you could relate the bid D to? Have you taken anything to stop it, like Immodium? That works really well.......
    Hope you can find the cause......
    Nancy
  • Lynda53
    Lynda53 Member Posts: 210
    #6
    ACS site says radiation as well
    I googled and got this and chose the AcS response
    ACS :: Diarrhea
    Apr 27, 2009 ... Diarrhea caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy may last for up to 3 weeks after treatment ends. What the patient can do ...
    www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/.../MBC_2_3X_Diarrhea.asp - Cached - Similar

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