Cancer: Home Treatment for Diarrhea

Home treatment may be all that is needed to treat diarrhea caused by cancer or the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Be sure to follow any instructions and take any medicines your health professional has given you to treat diarrhea. Check with your health professional before using any nonprescription medicines for your diarrhea.

• Take frequent, small sips of water or a rehydration drink and small bites of salty crackers.
• Try to increase your fluid intake to at least 1 qt (1 L) each hour for 1 to 2 hours or until diarrhea symptoms disappear.
• Begin eating mild foods the next day or sooner, depending on how you feel.
  • Avoid spicy foods, fruits, alcohol, and caffeine until 48 hours after all symptoms are gone.
  • Avoid chewing gum that contains sorbitol.
  • Avoid dairy products for 3 days after symptoms go away. When you have diarrhea, milk products may be harder for your body to digest.

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

If one or more of the following symptoms occur during home treatment, contact your health professional:

• Signs of dehydration develop.
• You develop severe diarrhea (large, loose bowel movements every 1 to 2 hours).
• You have any diarrhea for longer than 1 week.
• You have severe pain in your belly.
• You develop black or bloody stools.
• You develop a fever.
• Your symptoms become more severe or more frequent.