Most people will have problems with their bowel function for several weeks after rectal cancer surgery. The rectum stores poo before you pass it out of your body. But this usually settles down after a few weeks and medicines may help with some of the symptoms. Straight after surgery to remove part of your colon, your poo might be a bit looser and more frequent. The waste material (poo) is then stored in the back passage (rectum) until you pass it out of the body through your anus. The body absorbs water from undigested food as it passes through the colon. Side effects are likely to be worse if you have a combination of treatments. The changes to your bowel function will depend on what treatment you have. How treatment affects your bowel function Your doctor or nurse will tell you more about what to expect after treatment and help you manage any bowel changes. These include what operation you have, which part of your bowel the surgeon removes and any other treatments you have. The bowel changes you have after treatment will depend on a number of factors. There are things you can do to help you manage these changes. But sometimes they might go on for longer and can be difficult to live with. These effects usually improve in the weeks and months after you finish treatment. Changes can include how often you poo, how urgently you need to go, and difficulty emptying your bowel completely. Treatment for bowel (colorectal) cancer can cause changes to how your bowels work.

Altered bowel habit