What should I eat when I have diarrhea from cancer treatment?

When you have diarrhea during cancer treatment, some general food and drink choices may help you feel better and replace what your body loses. Your health care team can tailor advice to you.

The article suggests drinking plenty of clear liquids, such as water or broth, to replace fluids and electrolytes; room-temperature liquids are easiest on the stomach. Eating small, frequent meals or snacks may be easier than three large meals. Low-fiber foods such as white bread, pasta, and canned fruit can help reduce diarrhea. Because you lose sodium and potassium with diarrhea, foods that replace them are a good idea, such as peeled and boiled potatoes, soup, bananas, applesauce, and crackers.

Some foods and drinks can make diarrhea worse and are best avoided, including alcohol, milk and dairy products, spicy foods, caffeinated drinks, dried beans, high-fat foods, fruit juices, and sugar-free gum or candy.

Because severe diarrhea can cause dehydration, tell your doctor or nurse if it lasts or becomes more severe. You can also ask whether meeting with a registered dietitian would help.