This topic is about understanding how chemotherapy might affect someone who already has a stoma. The person who started the discussion has had a healthy stoma for 19 years and is about to begin chemotherapy for breast cancer. Naturally, they are concerned about how the treatment might impact their stoma and are seeking advice from others who have been through similar experiences.

Here are some helpful insights and advice shared by others:

1. People who have undergone chemotherapy, whether through IV or oral tablets, generally report that their stomas were not directly harmed by the treatment.

2. The most common stoma-related side effect mentioned is increased diarrhea. However, this is usually manageable and often considered less of a problem than dealing with constipation.

3. Fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy, but it doesn't specifically affect the stoma.

4. One person who had both pelvic radiation and chemotherapy experienced diarrhea, but they believed it was mainly due to the radiation. Since breast cancer radiation targets the upper torso, similar issues are unlikely for those receiving this type of treatment.

5. The overall consensus is that your stoma should remain healthy during chemotherapy. It's important to keep an eye on the consistency of your stoma output and ensure you stay well-hydrated.