Dealing with urgent bathroom trips is really stressful, and you're not alone in experiencing this. Gastrointestinal (stomach and bowel) issues can be directly related to lymphoma or its treatments.
Some common causes include:
- Lymphoma itself – when lymphoma affects the gastrointestinal tract, it can cause diarrhea Show Full Answer
Dealing with urgent bathroom trips is really stressful, and you're not alone in experiencing this. Gastrointestinal (stomach and bowel) issues can be directly related to lymphoma or its treatments.
Some common causes include:
- Lymphoma itself – when lymphoma affects the gastrointestinal tract, it can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and urgent bowel movements
- Chemotherapy side effects – many chemo drugs irritate the digestive system, leading to diarrhea or urgency
- Medications – antibiotics or other supportive medications can disrupt gut bacteria and cause loose stools
- Nausea and vomiting treatments – some anti-nausea medications can affect bowel habits It's really important to let your oncology team know about this as soon as possible. Persistent diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can affect how well your body handles treatment.
In the meantime, staying hydrated is key — sip fluids slowly throughout the day and try clear liquids like ginger ale, apple juice, or tea to help settle things down.
Please don't wait on this one — your care team needs to know so they can help find the cause and adjust your care plan if needed.
June 1