Gastrointestinal symptoms of advanced cancer

Introduction Advanced Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A common symptom in patients with advanced cancer, often more distressing than cancer pain. The performance is: nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, hiccups and so on.

Cause

It can be a side effect of treatment; it can also be caused by cancer invading the digestive or nervous system; it may also be a psychological effect such as anxiety.

an examination

1, nausea and vomiting: is a common symptom of patients with advanced cancer, often more distressing than cancer pain. Nausea and vomiting can be a side effect of treatment; it can also be caused by cancer invading the digestive or nervous system; it can also be a psychological effect such as anxiety. It should generally be treated symptomatically for different reasons.

2, loss of appetite: may be related to general malaise or emotional depression, nervousness and anxiety, as well as gastrointestinal candidiasis, constipation, etc., can also be caused by the tumor itself, the patient is not interested in food, and even nausea when mentioning food. Family members and medical staff should help patients find ways to stimulate appetite: pay attention to the color, aroma, taste and shape of the food, a small amount of meals, a small amount of aperitif or drink before meals, and some people accompanying meals. The most effective drug is corticosteroids.

3, constipation: is a common side effect of morphine painkillers: reduced activity in patients with advanced cancer, eating less and too fine and lack of cellulose is also the cause of constipation; mental stress will increase constipation. The treatment method is to eat more fruits and vegetables rich in cellulose, and more importantly, to prevent constipation. When using morphine painkillers, laxatives, common laxatives, stool softeners and stimulating bowel movements should be used. Drugs include: senna, magnesium hydroxide, liquid paraffin, magnesium sulfate and lactic acid fructose; the dose is gradually increased; when the patient's rectum is filled with feces and the laxative is ineffective, the stool can be excreted with a suppository, enema or finger .

4, diarrhea: chemotherapy, lower abdominal radiotherapy or intestinal malabsorption can cause diarrhea, bacterial infection, fat absorption difficulties, allergies to special foods, mental and psychological factors may be the cause of diarrhea. Mild diarrhea can be relieved by dietary adjustment; long-term diarrhea can be used as a secret agent or other intestinal sedatives; rectal cancer can cause diarrhea, colostomy or radiotherapy or laser treatment; for serious cases, anaesthetic drugs containing morphine can be used. Compound therapy; patients with long-term diarrhea need to supplement nutrition and potassium.

5, hiccup: often caused by the stomach, lower esophageal or liver tumors stimulate the diaphragm. Inhaled carbon dioxide can temporarily control symptoms; chlorpromazine, diazepam, and metoclopramide can alleviate symptoms; corticosteroids can help reduce the pressure of the diaphragm, and furosemide is sometimes effective. For refractory hiccups, sacral neurotomy is feasible.

Differential diagnosis

Functional gastrointestinal symptoms: Gastrointestinal specialists have found that most patients with gastrointestinal disorders are associated with functional symptoms. According to one study, approximately one-third of patients have one or more functional gastrointestinal symptoms that affect the patient's quality of life. Psychological and behavioral treatment of these patients can improve symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients.

Gastrointestinal symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, which are caused by the release of histamine and inflammatory mediators. Occasionally, tumor mast cells can also directly infiltrate the gastrointestinal tract. Such as genetics, the environment, diet, drugs, bacteria and smoking, excessive drinking, etc. can cause stomach problems. Gastrointestinal dysfunction is also known as gastrointestinal neurosis or gastrointestinal neurosis. The disease is mainly caused by gastrointestinal dysfunction, and there are many backgrounds of mental factors, but there is no organic pathological basis in pathological anatomy, and does not include gastrointestinal dysfunction caused by other system diseases.

1, nausea and vomiting: is a common symptom of patients with advanced cancer, often more distressing than cancer pain. Nausea and vomiting can be a side effect of treatment; it can also be caused by cancer invading the digestive or nervous system; it can also be a psychological effect such as anxiety. It should generally be treated symptomatically for different reasons.

2, loss of appetite: may be related to general malaise or emotional depression, nervousness and anxiety, as well as gastrointestinal candidiasis, constipation, etc., can also be caused by the tumor itself, the patient is not interested in food, and even nausea when mentioning food. Family members and medical staff should help patients find ways to stimulate appetite: pay attention to the color, aroma, taste and shape of the food, a small amount of meals, a small amount of aperitif or drink before meals, and some people accompanying meals. The most effective drug is corticosteroids.

3, constipation: is a common side effect of morphine painkillers: reduced activity in patients with advanced cancer, eating less and too fine and lack of cellulose is also the cause of constipation; mental stress will increase constipation. The treatment method is to eat more fruits and vegetables rich in cellulose, and more importantly, to prevent constipation. When using morphine painkillers, laxatives, common laxatives, stool softeners and stimulating bowel movements should be used. Drugs include: senna, magnesium hydroxide, liquid paraffin, magnesium sulfate and lactic acid fructose; the dose is gradually increased; when the patient's rectum is filled with feces and the laxative is ineffective, the stool can be excreted with a suppository, enema or finger .

4, diarrhea: chemotherapy, lower abdominal radiotherapy or intestinal malabsorption can cause diarrhea, bacterial infection, fat absorption difficulties, allergies to special foods, mental and psychological factors may be the cause of diarrhea. Mild diarrhea can be relieved by dietary adjustment; long-term diarrhea can be used as a secret agent or other intestinal sedatives; rectal cancer can cause diarrhea, colostomy or radiotherapy or laser treatment; for serious cases, anaesthetic drugs containing morphine can be used. Compound therapy; patients with long-term diarrhea need to supplement nutrition and potassium.

5, hiccup: often caused by the stomach, lower esophageal or liver tumors stimulate the diaphragm. Inhaled carbon dioxide can temporarily control symptoms; chlorpromazine, diazepam, and metoclopramide can alleviate symptoms; corticosteroids can help reduce the pressure of the diaphragm, and furosemide is sometimes effective. For refractory hiccups, sacral neurotomy is feasible.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.