Prevention of Constipation in Cancer Patients

Summary

Constipation is the third most common symptom in patients undergoing chemotherapy, with an incidence rate ranging from 31% to 90%. Despite its high prevalence and adverse effects on patients, constipation is often not reported by patients and is not frequently monitored by nurses, resulting in delays in treatment and care. Prolonged constipation can lead to health problems such as fecal impaction/obstruction, hemorrhoids, rectal pain, and intestinal perforation, thereby reducing patients' quality of life. Additionally, increased severity of constipation in cancer patients may lead to the interruption or complete cessation of chemotherapy. Therefore, it is essential to monitor and assess patients for the risk of developing constipation and to implement an effective nursing care protocol. Abdominal massage is an approach that increases peristalsis, i.e., digestive system movement, by altering intra-abdominal pressure, thereby reducing the severity of constipation.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years of age or older,
* Receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer or lung cancer that causes constipation
* Patients who received at least one cycle of chemotherapy and experienced chemotherapy-associated constipation within five days of treatment (stool type 1 or 2 according to the Bristol Stool Scale)
* Volunteers who are willing to participate in the research, can communicate, and can read and write,
* Without psychiatric illness and abdominal obstruction,
* No mass in the abdominal region was detected,
* No intestinal bleeding,
* No history of radiation therapy to the abdominal region,
* No surgical procedures in the abdominal region,
* Patients without intra-abdominal infection, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome will be included

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with stool type 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 points according to the Bristol Stool Scale

Conditions2

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