Information in this section pertains to all global PEN® partners except where country flags are
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no information specific to that country.
Disease Etiology
Individuals with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the abdominal or pelvic areas are at high risk for developing diarrhea (1). Chemotherapy causes acute damage to the intestinal mucosa that is characterized by rendering certain intestinal epithelial cells (crypt cells) unable to replicate, which leads to death of the cells and extensive inflammation of intestinal wall (2). These effects result in the loss of absorptive surface in the intestine. In addition,