Doctors Flag Bowel Incontinence as Late Colorectal Cancer Sign as U.S. Cases in Young People Nearly Doubled
Updated
Updated · HuffPost · Jul 18
Doctors Flag Bowel Incontinence as Late Colorectal Cancer Sign as U.S. Cases in Young People Nearly Doubled
3 articles · Updated · HuffPost · Jul 18
Summary
Bowel incontinence can signal advanced colorectal cancer, doctors say, especially in rectal tumors where the disease disrupts rectal sensation, weakens anal sphincter nerve control, causes mucus-heavy diarrhea or narrows the bowel.
Doctors stress the symptom is usually not an early clue: rectal bleeding, blood in stool, bowel-habit changes, abdominal pain, weight loss, iron-deficiency anemia and fatigue more often appear first.
Many cases of bowel leakage are not cancer-related and are more commonly tied to aging, pelvic floor dysfunction, chronic diarrhea, childbirth injury, hemorrhoids, prolapse or inflammatory bowel disease.
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common U.S. cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, while rates in younger people have nearly doubled since 1995.
Screening from age 45, faster evaluation of symptoms lasting more than a few weeks, and lifestyle steps such as limiting alcohol, tobacco and processed foods can improve odds because early-stage disease is often surgically treatable.