Managing Medication-induced Constipation in Cancer: A Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria:

- The study sample will consist of patients who are receiving outpatient care at the
Moffitt Cancer Center.

- Patients will be identified as those who have a diagnosis of cancer and are being
treated with either opioids or vinca alkaloids,

- are adults (or children 18-21 years old),

- either male or female,

- able to read and understand English,

- and able to pass screening with the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire and
Karnofsky Performance Status Scale.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients will be excluded: if they have non-melanoma skin cancer or colorectal or
gynecological cancer as their primary diagnosis;

- if they are excessively debilitated or deemed unlikely to survive for the eight weeks
of the data collection period;

- if they are unable to read and understand English;

- if they have an ostomy that changes bowel function;

- if they have a current peritoneal catheter;

- if they have had abdominal surgery within the past six weeks;

- or have a disease process suggestive of mechanical obstruction (tumor or adhesion);

- if they have a history of chronic bowel disease (including irritable bowel syndrome,
chronic constipation prior to cancer onset, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or
diarrhea as a result of radiation to the pelvis), or report chronic laxative use
prior to cancer onset.