HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Constipation in palliative care
KÅroke ki te taikitanga whakamaene
Constipation is a common problem for people with cancer and other long-term diseases.
Constipation means passing hard or painful bowel motions (poos) or going to the toilet less often than usual to empty your bowels.
It can cause pain and discomfort. If we do not manage it well, it can also cause nausea and vomiting, difficulty passing urine (weeing or peeing) or a bowel blockage. Constipation can also cause anxiety and confusion.
Everyone has different bowel habits, so constipation is an individual thing. Remember, if you are eating less, it does not necessarily mean you will pass bowel motions (poos) less often. If you become uncomfortable or are at all concerned, tell your doctor or nurse straight away, as it is much easier to deal with it is treated early.
Causes of constipation
Several things can cause constipation. They include:
- the effects of the cancer or other disease
- not eating or drinking much
- inactivity, or just not moving much
- ignoring the urge to pass a bowel motion (poos)
- medication, for example pain relievers such as morphine or codeine
- lack of toilet facilities or privacy.
Self-care for constipation
If you are constipated, there are several things you can do yourself to make it better.
- Make sure it is easy for you to go to the toilet and you have the privacy you need.
- If possible, eat regular meals and snacks, eat and drink slowly and chew food well.
- Eat fruit and vegetables every day. Kiwifruit, prunes or figs can really help.
- Try to drink more fluid. If possible, drink at least 8 glasses of fluid every day. Fluid includes water, tea, fruit or milk drinks, soup, jelly and ice blocks.
- If you can, be more active.
- Keep track of how often you go to the toilet. It can be a good idea to write it down in a book.
- If you need to, have a regular assessment by your nurse or doctor. They will be able to work out what might be causing your constipation and what the best treatment will be. This assessment is likely to include an examination in your bottom (rectum) with a gloved finger to find out what kind of constipation you have.
You can find more ideas to help yourself in Self-care for constipation.
Getting help for constipation
Your doctor or nurse practitioner may be able to prescribe something to help or change your medication if that is causing your constipation.
They may prescribe laxatives. Laxatives are medicines that help you pass bowel motions more easily and regularly. Almost everyone who is taking opioid pain relief such as morphine needs to take laxatives.
You can take some laxatives as oral medicines (meaning you swallow them). Sometimes they are given as a suppository (these are inserted in your bottom, usually by a community nurse).
You can find out more information about laxatives on Medicines for constipation. But note that bulk-forming laxatives usually are not used in palliative care.
Tell your nurse or doctor if your bowels have not moved for 3 days, if you are in any discomfort or if you get diarrhoea after being constipated for a while.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Nurse Maude – Symptom management
This leaflet describes common symptoms and how to deal with them.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2024.
SourcesReview key: HIPAL-17434
