Abdominal Pain and Cancer

  

Abdominal Pain and Cancer
PAIN OR ABDOMINAL CRAMPS

What is abdominal pain and what are abdominal cramps? What is their relationship to cancer and chemotherapy treatments?

The abdomen is the part of the body located between the chest and the pelvis. Most people refer to the abdomen in general terms as the stomach (although the stomach is an organ located inside the abdomen). Pain is a personal experience of discomfort. Abdominal pain may be associated with various conditions inside and outside the abdomen. Abdominal or lower abdominal pain may be a dull pain, a cramp, or severe pain. The dull pains and cramps are often associated with some chemotherapy drugs. Severe pain that does not subside in a few minutes can be an indicator of a more serious problem.

Abdominal pain, cramps and flatulence (gas) induced by cancer treatment:

    Chemotherapy can make intestinal motility higher (faster) or lower (slower). In other words, the normal action in the form of waves that move stool through the intestine may be faster or slower than usual.
    Rapid motility can make the stool move faster and have less consistency. Rapid motility can be associated with cramps and / or diarrhea.
    Slow motility can make stools move more slowly, so they harden and dry and expel is more difficult. It can contribute to constipation. Pain may be a painful discomfort or similar to a cramp and may be associated with increased flatulence (gas).
    Chemotherapy can also alter the normal bacterial flora present in the intestines. This can influence digestion and cause abdominal pain, cramps or flatulence (gas).
    Steroids and other immunosuppressant medications can increase the likelihood of ulcers or other potentially serious abdominal complications, such as a perforation.
    The history or development of lactose intolerance can increase abdominal pain, cramps or flatulence (gas).
    Cramps are caused by a spasm (or contraction) of the intestine. They may be associated with the urge to evacuate the intestines. In general, they are not constant but appear in "waves". They can be accompanied by diarrhea, constipation or flatulence (gas).

    What you can do to control abdominal pain or cramps:
        In order for your health care provider to help you manage your pain, it will be helpful for you to adequately describe the pain. One way to do this is to answer the following questions.
        It's a good idea to write a journal so you can track the pain as time goes by:
            Start: when did the pain begin? What was he doing when the pain began?
            Quality: how is the pain? Does it feel like a stitch and is it sharp, or is it dull and constant?
            Location: where does the pain feel? Can you point to the exact place where you feel it, or does it cover an entire area?
            Intensity: how severe is abdominal pain all the time? How intense is it when you perform certain activities that make you feel pain, on a scale of 1 to 10, where the number "10" is the greatest pain you can imagine?
            Duration: how long did the pain last? Did it last only until he reached the door, or did he continue to feel it for a while?
            Type of pain or aggravating factors: does the pain appear and disappear each time you perform certain activity, or is it unpredictable?
            Relieving factors: what can you do to make the abdominal pain go away? Is there anything to relieve it? What have you used previously that has given you good results? Does it continue to give good results?



What is your mood? Are you depressed or do you feel anxiety? Does that make the pain increase?
        Sometimes, lying down for a while can help relieve abdominal discomfort.
        Drink plenty of liquid (2 to 3 quarts every 24 hours), unless you have been instructed to limit fluids.
        Take your medications with food, unless specifically instructed to take them on an empty stomach.
        Avoid aspirin or products that contain aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), unless your doctor has specifically prescribed them.
        Avoid the use of narcotic analgesics if you do not need them. Do not use them for abdominal pain, unless your doctor has recommended them (the cause of the pain should first be determined).
        Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes; both can irritate your stomach.
        If you experience cramps, try to relax and take a deep breath to help relieve them.
        Take light foods in small amounts, such as those you would take to control nausea and / or diarrhea.

    Nausea and vomiting
    Foods to avoid during cancer treatments, to avoid having abdominal pain:
        Spicy or spicy foods (ie hot pepper, curry, Cajun spice mix).
        Fatty or fried foods.
        Very sweet or sugary foods.
        Very abundant meals.
        Foods with very strong odors (warm foods tend to have a stronger smell).
        Drink or eat too fast.
        Drink drinks with meals.
        Lying down after eating.

    Practical advice you can follow:
        Take small portions throughout the day.
        Take cold or room temperature entries.
        Rinse your mouth with lemon water after eating.
        Suck on ice cubes, peppermint candies or hard candies.
        During meals, it can be useful to get distracted by watching television, listening to music or reading.

    Diarrhea
    Foods that help prevent abdominal pain:
        Spicy or spicy foods (ie hot pepper, curry, Cajun spice mix).
        Foods rich in fiber (ie, raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains).
        Fatty or fried foods.
        Heavy desserts
        Dried fruits, seeds or dehydrated fruits.

    Drinks to avoid during cancer treatments when you have abdominal pain:
        Drinks that are very hot or very cold.
        Drinks with caffeine (coffee, strong tea, soft drinks and possibly chocolate).
        Be cautious with dairy products.

    Practical advice you can follow to minimize abdominal pain caused by cancer treatment:
        Decrease the amount of total fiber or use a good source of soluble fiber (ie, rice, bananas, white bread, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, compote or applesauce, chicken or turkey without skin and boneless).
        Increase the amount of sodium (salt) and potassium in your diet.
        Drink a lot of liquid.

    In some cases, in order to control abdominal pain you may have to follow the "trial and error" method in order to identify what may worsen or improve the pain in your case.

    Drugs or recommendations that your health care provider may prescribe:
        Although there are many prescription medications for abdominal pain, these medications are usually associated with other stomach problems. You should talk to your healthcare provider about these medications, including: Maalox®, Mylanta®, Pepto-Bismol®, and TUMS®.





If you can not tolerate lactose, Lactaid® can be helpful.
        See also: Management of heartburn or heartburn, Management of nausea, Management of diarrhea and Management of constipation, as appropriate.

    When to call your health care provider:

    Seek emergency help and call your doctor immediately if you experience sudden, severe abdominal pain that does not stop in a few minutes, especially if accompanied by one of the following symptoms:
        Sudden abdominal swelling
        Sensation of dizziness, weakness and vertigo.
        Sweating
        Fever of 100.5 ºF or more.
        Sudden vomiting or vomiting with blood.
        Loss of knowledge
        Abdominal rigidity

    Contact your health care provider within 24 hours if you experience the following symptoms:
        Constant abdominal pain that does not stop with the prescribed methods.
        Cramps that do not go away after following the aforementioned recommendations.
        Nausea (if they interfere with the ability to eat and do not stop with the prescribed medication).
        Vomiting (more than 4 or 5 times in a 24-hour period).
        Diarrhea (from 4 to 6 episodes in a 24-hour period).
        Black or tarry stools, or presence of blood in the stool.
        If you have not evacuated the bowel in three days despite following the recommendations of your doctor or health care professional.
        If your stomach looks swollen and / or feels stiff to the touch.

    FLATULENCE (GASES)

    What is flatulence and how does cancer treatment influence it?

    Flatulence or gases are actually normal function of the body and, in fact, are quite healthy. Socially, flatulence is simply unacceptable, but the fact is that ... we all have "gases". Flatulence is a consequence of digestion, however, when treatment against cancer causes severe flatulence and abdominal pain, steps can be taken to minimize the effects of treatment. All the food the body receives is digested (broken down) into small parts (nutrients) to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal wall and transported to other parts of the body.

    Proteins are broken down into amino acids, fats are broken down into fatty acids and carbohydrates are broken down into molecules like glucose. The nutrients that are not used are stored in the form of fats or glycogen.

    Sometimes, food does not break down completely in the stomach or small intestine. There are several reasons why food does not break down in the stomach or small intestine, such as lactose intolerance (the body does not have the enzyme lactase to break down lactose). Once the food reaches the large intestine, there are hundreds of bacteria (normal flora) available to help break down undigested food. When this happens, a variety of gases are released (similar to how yeast releases carbon dioxide into the bread dough when it is grown). These bacteria release gases such as methane, hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is the gas that causes the smell.

    Certain foods are harder to digest than others. Carbohydrates are the ones that produce more flatulence. Some of these foods difficult to digest are beans (beans, beans), bran, potatoes, fruits, vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, onions, garlic) and even milk.

    In a much less serious tone, flatulence is known by other names besides "gas" or "gases": peo or fart, ventosidad, flato, feather, air, cuesco, pun, rocket and various homemade names.

    Abdominal pain, cramps and flatulence caused by chemotherapy:







Chemotherapy can make intestinal motility higher (faster) or lower (slower). In other words, the normal action in the form of waves that move stool through the intestine may be faster or slower than usual.
        Rapid motility can make the stool move faster and have less consistency. Rapid motility can be associated with cramps and / or diarrhea.
        Slow motility can cause the stool to move at a slower rate, making it harder and drying and expelling it is more difficult. It can contribute to constipation and pain in the lower abdomen. Pain may be a painful discomfort or similar to a cramp and may be associated with increased flatulence (gas).
        Chemotherapy can also alter the normal bacterial flora present in the intestines. This can influence digestion and cause pain, cramps or flatulence (gas).
        Steroids and other immunosuppressant medications can increase the likelihood of ulcers or other potentially serious abdominal complications, such as a perforation.
        The history or development of lactose intolerance can increase abdominal pain, cramps or flatulence (gas).
        Cramps are caused by a spasm (or contraction) of the intestine. They may be associated with the urge to evacuate the intestines. In general, they are not constant but appear in "waves". They can be accompanied by diarrhea, constipation or flatulence (gas).
    What you can do to control abdominal pain caused by cancer treatment:
        Drink plenty of liquid (2 to 3 quarts every 24 hours), unless you have been instructed to limit fluids.
        Take your medications with food, unless specifically instructed to take them on an empty stomach.
        Avoid aspirin or products that contain aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), unless your doctor has specifically prescribed them.
        Avoid the use of narcotic analgesics if you do not need them. Do not use them for abdominal pain.
        Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes; both can irritate the stomach.
        If you experience cramps, try to relax and take a deep breath to help relieve them.
        Take light foods in small amounts, such as those you would take to control nausea or diarrhea.

    Nausea and vomiting
    Foods to avoid:
        Spicy or spicy foods (ie hot pepper, curry, Cajun spice mix).
        Fatty or fried foods.
        Very sweet or sugary foods.
        Very abundant meals.
        Foods with very strong odors (warm foods tend to have a stronger smell).
        Drink or eat too fast.
        Drink drinks with meals.
        Lying down after eating.

    Practical advice to avoid pain in the lower abdomen and flatulence when you are receiving cancer treatments:
        Take small portions throughout the day.
        Take cold or room temperature entries.
        Rinse your mouth with lemon water after eating.
        Suck on ice cubes, peppermint candies or hard candies.
        During meals, it can be useful to get distracted by watching television, listening to music or reading.

    Diarrhea
    Foods to avoid:
        Spicy or spicy foods (ie hot pepper, curry, Cajun spice mix).
        Foods rich in fiber (ie, raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains).
        Fatty or fried foods.
        Heavy desserts
        Dried fruits, seeds or dehydrated fruits.

    Drinks to avoid:
        Drinks that are very hot or very cold.
        Drinks with caffeine (coffee, strong tea, soft drinks and possibly chocolate).
        Be cautious with dairy products.






  



Practical advice you can follow:
        Decrease the amount of total fiber or use a good source of soluble fiber (ie, rice, bananas, white bread, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, compote or applesauce, chicken or turkey without skin and boneless).
        Increase the amount of sodium (salt) and potassium in your diet.
        Drink a lot of liquid.

    Drugs or recommendations that your healthcare provider may prescribe to combat flatulence and abdominal pain during and after cancer treatment:
        There are over-the-counter medications for flatulence. Most contain the ingredient simethicone. Some products include Gas-X® and Beano®. In addition, some antacids also contain simethicone. If you are lactose intolerant, Lactaid® may be helpful. You should talk with your health care provider about the medications you take.
    See also: Management of heartburn, Management of nausea, Management of diarrhea and Management of constipation, as appropriate.

    When to call the health care provider:

    Contact your health care provider within 24 hours if you experience the following symptoms:
        Constant abdominal pain that does not stop with the prescribed methods.
        Cramps that do not go away after following the aforementioned recommendations.
        Nausea (if they interfere with the ability to eat and do not stop with the prescribed medication).
        Vomiting (more than 4 or 5 times in a 24-hour period).
        Diarrhea (from 4 to 6 episodes in a 24-hour period).
        Black or tarry stools, or presence of blood in the stool.
        If you have not evacuated the bowel in three days despite following the recommendations of your doctor or health care professional.
        If your stomach looks swollen and / or feels stiff to the touch.

    Note: We insist on recommending you talk with your health care professional about your illness and your specific treatments. The information included in this website is intended to be useful and instructive, and in no case should it be considered a substitute for medical advice.