Maroun, J.A., Anthony, L.B., Blais, N., Burkes, R., Dowden, S.D., Dranitsaris, G., . . . Wong, R. (2007). Prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in patients with colorectal cancer: A consensus statement by the Canadian Working Group on Chemotherapy-Induced Diarrhea. Current Oncology, 14, 12–20.
RESOURCE TYPE: Consensus-based guideline
PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT: Review of selected literature and retrospective review of 63 patients hospitalized for CID
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
No specific broad search and literature review were used. A few study findings are cited. No information was provided regarding the strength of evidence cited.
Algorithm and consensus recommendations are provided for management of CID. Although these guidelines are aimed specifically at colorectal cancer cases, principles are likely to apply to other tumor types. Whether the mechanisms of diarrhea, and, therefore, effective treatments, are the same with various chemotherapy agents is unclear, and research is limited in this area. Prophylactic use of octreotide is suggested for patients who had diarrhea in a previous cycle of treatment in order to attempt to avoid the need for dose reductions or treatment delays.