Asked and Answered

A need for laxatives doesn’t mean there’s a bowel obstruction. People who are seriously ill often have trouble with bowel function. Laxatives are used to treat this before it has a chance to create a bowel obstruction. Two main reasons why a person who’s ill may need a laxative are: Some cancers affect how the bowel works. Any tumor located... 

Several things affect how long someone can live with a blocked large intestine (also called a bowel obstruction ). Surgery may be considered if it has the potential to solve the problem by removing or reducing the obstruction. Surgery is an option if the blockage is caused by a tumor pressing on the bowel, or if there’s scar tissue or twisting...