Some people who are diagnosed with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, or GEP-NETs, develop diarrhea. It’s more common when their tumors are located in the small intestine.
That’s because GEP-NETs, which are tumors that form in the gastrointestinal tract, release hormones such as serotonin. This hormone release may then trigger bowel activity.
“It’s making the bowel move things through faster than it otherwise would,” explains Kimberly Perez, MD, Medical Oncologist with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
What are medications and therapies for managing diarrhea?
If your diarrhea is caused by carcinoid syndrome, a group of symptoms brought on by the release of hormones and other substances by GEP-NETs, there are a few different treatments that may help you.
Here are some options for prescription medications and therapies that may help you manage your diarrhea, which include:
Somatostatin analogs
Tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitors
Chemotherapy
Radioligand therapy
Targeted therapy
You can also try antidiarrheal medications like loperamide, which is available over the counter. Some antidiarrheal medications are also available by prescription, such as Lomotil and cholestyramine.
What lifestyle changes can help with diarrhea?
You can also make lifestyle changes, including altering your diet. A bland diet such as the BRAT diet — which revolves around bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast — may help curb your diarrhea. The idea is to eat bland and starchy foods that help fill you up but don’t worsen diarrhea. It’s generally low in nutrients and is not meant to be followed long term.
Some other tips for managing diarrhea from GEP-NETs include:
Eating small, frequent meals
Drinking plenty of water
Finding ways to relieve your stress
“It is important for you to share any symptoms, specifically diarrhea, with your care team, because it is not supposed to be part of your day-to-day [life],” says Perez. “It is definitely something that your team can help with.”
Kimberly Perez, MD, is a Medical Oncologist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA.
References
American Cancer Society. (2018). Signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
Chan, J. A., et al. (2023). Metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: Local options to control tumor growth and symptoms of hormone hypersecretion. UpToDate.
Cives, M., et al. (2018). Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
MedlinePlus. (2023). When you have diarrhea.
Pandit, S., et al. (2023). Carcinoid syndrome. StatPearls.
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