Information in this section pertains to all global PEN® partners except where country flags are
visible. Click on the flag(s) for country-specific information. If a country flag is not listed, there is
no information specific to that country.
Disease Etiology
Constipation
Individuals with cancer can have constipation for a number of reasons, including cancer itself or cancer treatments (1). The cells lining the gastrointestinal (GI) tract divide rapidly, so they can be easily damaged by chemotherapy and radiation therapy (1). It can also be caused by dehydration, lack of fiber intake, overuse of laxatives, low level of physical activities etc. (1). The following medications can also induce constipation: some chemotherapy agents (2),