Constipation

• Make sure you have plenty of fibre (roughage) in your diet. Good sources of fibre include wholewheat breakfast cereals like Weetabix, Shredded Wheat, or muesli; wholemeal bread and flour; brown rice; wholemeal pasta; fresh fruit and vegetables with skins on.
• Favourite natural remedies for constipation are syrup of figs, prunes and prune juice.
• Make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Hot or cold drinks will be helpful. Aim to drink at least 2 litres a day.
• Gentle exercise will help to keep your bowels moving.
• If the constipation is due to medicines that you are taking (such as painkillers or anti-sickness drugs) you will need to take laxatives. Your doctor can prescribe these for you.

If you have cancer of the bowel|, or you think that your bowel may be affected by your cancer treatment, always ask your doctor or specialist nurse for advice on dealing with constipation.