ONE Group staff member Melanie Potiaumpai, PhD, works with cancer patient Curt Chambers in the exercise room at Penn State Cancer Institute in 2018. Both are smiling and Chambers is pulling on a resistance band.
Learn about diarrhea in people with cancer in this guide from The ONE Group (Oncology – Nutrition – Exercise) at Penn State College of Medicine.
What you should know
Diarrhea and cancer
Diarrhea is experiencing soft, loose and watery bowel movements.
Foods and liquids pass through the bowel so quickly that your body cannot absorb enough nutrition, vitamins and minerals from them.
It is a common side effect that can be caused by cancer treatment, including chemotherapy and other medications, radiation therapy to the abdomen and surgery.
Other potential causes include infection, food sensitivity and emotional upset.
BRAT diet
The term “BRAT” stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.
This diet is often recommended to those experiencing diarrhea because these foods are gentle on the stomach and the low fiber content can help by firming stool.
What you can do: Improving your eating behavior
Eat BRAT diet foods
In addition to bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, other foods that fall into the BRAT diet are:
- Soups: clear broth, such as chicken, vegetable or beef
- Liquids: cranberry, apple and grape juice, tea (without caffeine), water
- Snacks: canned peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, crackers, cream of wheat, eggs, gelatin, oatmeal, creamy peanut butter
Tips to improve your eating behavior when you’re experiencing diarrhea
- Drink at least one cup of liquid after each loose bowel movement. Try water, sports drinks or bouillon.
- Avoid high-fiber foods, such as nuts, whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
- Drink liquids at room temperature. This may be easier to take than very hot or cold drinks.
- Eat small, frequent meals and snacks.
- Avoid greasy, fried, spicy or very sweet foods.
- Limit milk or milk products to two cups a day.
- Drink and eat high-sodium (salt) foods like broths, soups, sports drinks, crackers and pretzels.
- Drink and eat high-potassium foods like fruit juices and nectars, sports drinks, potatoes with the skin and bananas.
- Do not chew sugar-free gum or eat candies and desserts made with sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol.
Recipes
Belly-Soothing Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup frozen bananas
1 tbsp. honey
½ tsp. vanilla powder
½ tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a blender, process until smooth and creamy.
Pineapple Ginger Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1 cup fresh pineapple
½ cup 2% or nonfat plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
½ tsp. fresh grated ginger or ¼ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. ground turmeric
2 tsp. chia seeds
Optional: A few fresh mint leaves
Instructions:
Blend all ingredients.
Notes
Contact your physician if:
- You have diarrhea, stomach pain and dizziness that lasts more than a day.
- You have a fever of 100.5 degrees F or higher.
- Your stools have an unusual odor or color.
- Your rectal area is sore and bleeding.
Ask about medicines that can help.
References
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- American Cancer Society
- American Institute for Cancer Research
- National Cancer Institute
FAQs
Penn State College of Medicine Acceptance Rate & Admissions Statistics. The Penn State Medical School acceptance rate indicates the school is very selective when approving candidates. Out of 12,882 verified applications, 151 were enrolled. That's an acceptance rate of approximately 1.17%*.
What is Penn State Medicine known for? ›
The College of Medicine is focused on: Becoming a recognized leader in comprehensive health research, research education and translational sciences.
Is Penn State Med school good? ›
Penn State College of Medicine has a tradition of excellence in education that is scientifically and clinically rigorous with a deep foundation in scholarship and humanistic care.
What is the mission of Penn State College of Medicine? ›
Our Mission
Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health are committed to enhancing the quality of life through improved health, the professional preparation of those who will serve the health needs of others, and the discovery of knowledge that will benefit all.
What is the hardest Penn State to get into? ›
The Penn State acceptance rate for University Park, the school's most competitive campus, was 54%. Early Action applicants saw a higher acceptance rate of 68%. The Penn State acceptance rate is competitive for a public university. Of every 100 applicants, 46 will receive a rejection.
What is the hardest course at Penn State? ›
The course, called "Circuit-Level Modeling," is the hardest class at Penn and has averaged a 3.89 out of 4.00 in difficulty, according to Penn Course Review data, which includes data up to April 2016.
Is Penn Medicine prestigious? ›
Penn has fared well in the past, noting that University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian has been named to the “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll of top 20 hospitals for the past 16 consecutive years.
What degree is Penn State most known for? ›
The most popular majors at The Pennsylvania State University--University Park include: Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; ...
Is Penn Medicine Ivy League? ›
Penn Medicine in Philadelphia Neighborhoods
The University of Pennsylvania, one of only eight Ivy League institutions in the United States, is also located here.
What GPA do you need to get into Penn medical school? ›
The average GPA for admitted applicants is 3.89, with a range of 3.74-4.0 for the 10th and 90th percentiles respectively.
Or is Penn Ivy League? Penn State, or PSU, is a large public university that is not part of the Ivy League, whereas UPenn, or Penn, is a prestigious private university that is in the Ivy League.
Is Penn State Med out of state friendly? ›
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
The tuition difference between in-state and out-of-state students here is not that much different: $45,000 vs $53,000.
Is a Penn State medical school pass fail? ›
All courses in the curriculum are graded on a letter grade basis with the exception of the Evidence-Based Medicine Course in the didactic year and the Summative Experience in the clinical year. These are both Pass/Fail courses. Course descriptions can be found in the Penn State Graduate Bulletin.
What makes Penn medical school unique? ›
Penn is rich in tradition and heritage and at the same time consistently at the forefront of new developments and innovations in medical education and research.
How much is Penn State medical school? ›
In 2024-25, tuition will increase 4% for Pennsylvania resident medical students, to $30,017 per semester, and 14% for all nonresident medical students, to $32,903 per semester. Living expenses are estimated at the off-campus rate and will be updated once costs have been finalized based on living circ*mstances.
Is it hard to get into Penn Medicine? ›
Penn Medicine's acceptance rate is 3.8% Out of thousands of applicants, only 156 students enrolled in a recent admissions cycle.
What GPA do you need for Penn State premed? ›
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to the Premedicine major, a student must have: attained at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average; and.
What is the easiest state to get into medical school? ›
What Is the Easiest State to Get Into Medical School? North Dakota and Mississippi are both considered to be states with easier medical school requirements and above-average acceptance rates.
