About Radiation Enteritis
The causes of radiation enteritis include:
- Damage and inflammation of healthy cells and tissues in the intestines caused by radiation therapy. While radiation targets cancer cells, it can also harm nearby healthy tissue.
- Loss of cells in the intestines, leading to swelling, inflammation, and symptoms like pain, nausea, and diarrhea.
- The buildup of radiation can slowly damage the intestinal lining and cause long-term issues.
Non-modifiable risk factors for radiation enteritis cannot be changed or controlled. These include:
- Individual risk: Some people may be more likely to develop radiation enteritis because of how their bodies naturally work.
- Receiving radiation therapy, especially in the pelvic area, increases the risk.
Modifiable risk factors for radiation enteritis can be influenced or changed. These include:
- Radiation amount and time: Receiving higher doses of radiation or having treatment for a longer time may raise the risk.
- Combined treatments: Having both radiation and chemotherapy at the same time may increase the risk.
It is important to discuss these factors with your healthcare professional to understand your individual risk.
Radiation enteritis can cause different symptoms, based on how advanced the condition is and how serious it has become. Here are the common symptoms linked with radiation enteritis:
Early symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Rectal pain during bowel movements: Pain in the area near the anus when trying to pass stool
- Loss of appetite: Not feeling hungry or wanting to eat
Later stage/higher severity symptoms:
- Bleeding or mucus from the rectum: A discharge of blood or slimy mucus when having a bowel movement
- Frequent or persistent urge to have bowel movements: Feeling the need to use the bathroom often or continuously, even if nothing happens
- Colicky abdominal pain: Sharp, cramping pain in the stomach that comes and goes
- Bloody diarrhea: Loose stools mixed with blood
- Steatorrhea (fatty stools): Stools that are greasy, oily, or difficult to flush
- Weight loss
- Bowel obstruction (less common): A blockage in the intestines that prevents food, fluids, or gas from moving through
- Fistulas (less common): An unusual connection that forms between two parts of the body, such as the intestines and another organ
- Bowel perforation (less common): A hole that forms in the intestines, which can lead to serious problems
- Massive rectal bleeding (less common): A large amount of blood coming from the rectum during bowel movements
It's important to note that not everyone will experience all of these symptoms, and the seriousness can be different for each person. If you are receiving radiation therapy and have any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor for the right diagnosis and treatment.
To diagnose radiation enteritis, doctors may perform the following exams, tests, and procedures:
- History and symptoms: Your doctor will ask about your bowel movements, including how long you’ve had symptoms, how often you have diarrhea, whether there’s blood in your stool, and any related symptoms.
- Physical exam: During the physical exam, your doctor will check for signs of enteritis, such as tenderness or bloating in your abdomen.
Diagnostic tests:
- Endoscopy: A thin flexible tube with a camera is put into your mouth and down your throat to look at the upper part of the small intestine. This helps find areas of swelling or damage from radiation.
- Colonoscopy: A similar tube is put into the rectum to check the colon and the lower part of the small intestine. This is useful to find damage or swelling from radiation in the lower digestive tract.
- Capsule endoscopy: You swallow a tiny camera in a pill that takes pictures of the small intestine. This helps find problems in areas that other tests can’t see.
- Abdominal CT (computed tomography) scan or upper gastrointestinal series (a set of x-rays): These are imaging tests that show detailed pictures of the intestines to help find swelling or other damage caused by radiation therapy.
- Blood tests: Blood is checked for signs of swelling (inflammation) or to see if the body is missing important nutrients, which can happen if the intestines aren’t working properly.
Remember, these are general diagnostic procedures for radiation enteritis. The specific tests recommended may be different depending on your situation. It's important to talk with your healthcare professional for personalized advice.
The goals of treatment for radiation enteritis are to relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation, prevent problems, and improve overall well-being Here are the recommended treatments and how they work to reach these goals:
Medication types:
- Antidiarrheal drugs: These can help control diarrhea, a common symptom of radiation enteritis.
- Bile acid sequestrants: These medications can help control diarrhea when regular medications don’t work.
- Antibiotics: They may be prescribed to treat any extra bacteria in the gut, which can add to symptoms.
Therapies:
- Dietary changes: A healthcare professional or nutritionist may recommend changes in diet to control symptoms and reduce inflammation. This can include avoiding spicy, fatty, and greasy foods, as well as dairy products (except yogurt) and high-fiber foods.
- Hydration: Drinking plenty of water, broth, or juice is important to stay hydrated and maintain bowel function.
Therapeutic procedures:
- Surgery: In severe cases, when problems like heavy bleeding or intestinal blockage happens, surgery may be recommended to remove the damaged parts of the intestines. This is considered a last resort.
Health behavior changes:
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol: These habits can irritate the digestive system and worsen symptoms.
It's important to note that treatment plans should be personalized based on individual needs. Talk with a healthcare professional for specific recommendations that are right for you.
Medication dosing may be affected by many factors. Check with your health care professional about dosing for your individual situation. Other side effects can occur. Check with your health care professional or read the information provided with your medication for additional side effect information.