{"id":770523,"date":"2026-07-18T16:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T16:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/770523\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T16:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T16:34:14","slug":"bowel-incontinence-and-colorectal-cancer-what-doctors-want-you-to-know-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/770523\/","title":{"rendered":"Bowel Incontinence And Colorectal Cancer: What Doctors Want You To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

The statistics for colon cancer and rectal cancer \u2014 often combined and referred to as colorectal cancer \u2014 are both scary and important to know. For example, colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer<\/a> in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Additionally, colorectal cancer rates in young people are rising<\/a>, nearly doubling since 1995.<\/p>\n

We also need to be especially conscientious because many signs of colorectal cancer \u2014 such as constipation, diarrhea and fatigue \u2014 are easily dismissed. You might assume they\u2019re just another case of irritable bowel syndrome, a food sensitivity or an undercooked meal. <\/p>\n

All of this emphasizes the importance of knowing what symptoms can indicate colorectal cancer and identifying them ASAP. As a colorectal cancer doctor will tell you<\/a>, prevention and early intervention are key. That can entail learning your family history, getting regular screenings and paying attention to symptoms. <\/p>\n

On that note, there\u2019s a certain symptom doctors want to make sure you\u2019re aware of: bowel incontinence. While it might feel embarrassing to talk about, we need to. Ahead, doctors explain the concerning sign, other common signs of colorectal cancer, and what prevention and treatment look like. After all, the more information you have, the better prepared you are.<\/p>\n

Bowel Incontinence As A Sign Of Colorectal Cancer<\/p>\n

For what it\u2019s worth, this sign isn\u2019t super common \u2014 and that can be a good thing and a bad thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cBowel leakage, also called fecal incontinence, is not something most patients with colorectal cancer experience, but it can occur, particularly with cancers involving the rectum,\u201d said Dr. Jason B. Carter<\/a>, a urologist and medical adviser with Aeroflow Urology who\u2019s board-certified by the American Board of Urology.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a good reminder that even though a symptom isn\u2019t common or necessarily listed on a website, it\u2019s still an indication that seeing a doctor is crucial. <\/p>\n

There are several reasons colorectal cancer<\/a> causes bowel leakage, according to Dr. Ketan Thanki<\/a>, a board-certified colorectal surgeon who specializes in benign and malignant disease of the colon, rectum and anus with the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in California: <\/p>\n

Rectal cancer can decrease the rectum\u2019s ability to sense and accommodate stool when it arrives.Rectal cancer can invade and weaken or disrupt nerve signals to the anal sphincter, decreasing your ability to hold in the stool.Colon and rectal cancers can secrete large amounts of mucus, which produces diarrhea<\/a>, which is harder to hold in than solid stool.Colon and rectal cancer can cause a narrowing of the colon\/rectum, in which solid stool can\u2019t pass, and pressurized liquid stool is squeezed through and can cause unexpected leakage. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting that this typically isn\u2019t the first sign you\u2019ll experience. <\/p>\n

\u201cMost patients diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer present with other symptoms first, such as rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, iron deficiency anemia or persistent fatigue,\u201d Carter said. <\/p>\n

So, this symptom can indicate a more advanced cancer. <\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, fecal incontinence often presents later in the course of a colorectal cancer because obstruction usually develops once a cancerous lesion becomes large enough to physically block passage of formed stool,\u201d said Dr. Nikiya Asamoah<\/a>, a gastroenterologist and inflammatory bowel disease specialist in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

At the same time, this symptom isn\u2019t a 100% clear sign that you have cancer, by any means. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe important thing for patients to understand is that bowel leakage is much more commonly caused by non-cancerous conditions,\u201d Carter said. He listed aging, pelvic floor dysfunction, chronic diarrhea, prior anorectal surgery, childbirth-related injury, neurologic disorders, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse and inflammatory bowel disease as frequent contributors.<\/p>\n

\"Don't<\/p>\n

Antonio Hugo Photo via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Don’t dismiss signs of colorectal cancer, including bowel incontinence. <\/p>\n

Other Signs Of Colorectal Cancer<\/p>\n

As mentioned above, other symptoms of colorectal cancer (that usually show up earlier) can include:<\/p>\n

Rectal bleedingBlood mixed in the stoolPersistent changes in bowel habitsNew constipationDiarrheaNarrowing of stool caliberAbdominal painUnexplained weight lossUnexplained iron-deficiency anemiaExcessive fatigueA feeling of incomplete bowel emptying after a bowel movementPencil-thin stools<\/a> or a sudden change in stool size<\/p>\n

You can also have colorectal cancer without those signs. <\/p>\n

\u201cMany patients are surprised to learn that colorectal cancer can be present for quite some time before symptoms become obvious,\u201d Carter added. \u201cThat is one reason screening is so important.\u201d <\/p>\n

Thanki agreed. \u201cRight-sided colorectal cancer (furthest from the anus) frequently causes no bowel changes at all, showing up only as fatigue or weight loss, which is exactly why screening starting at 45 matters even when you feel fine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

How To Prevent Or Treat Colorectal Cancer <\/p>\n

\u201cThe American Cancer Society has identified several preventable lifestyle habits that might increase an individual\u2019s risk of colorectal cancer, including alcohol and tobacco use,\u201d Asamoah said. \u201cIn general, gastroenterologists recommend that people avoid processed foods, limit excessive intake of red meat, increase their intake of dietary fiber<\/a> and remain physically active to prevent colorectal cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re at a higher risk or have a family history, regular colorectal cancer screenings with a colonoscopy are an important prevention strategy, she added.<\/p>\n

Thanki agreed, saying that eating nutritious foods, moving your body and getting early, regular screenings are best.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s more good news: \u201cWe have never had as many good treatments for colorectal cancer available to us as we do now,\u201d Thanki said. \u201cColorectal cancer that is caught early is usually surgically treatable.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the cancer is advanced or spreads, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and\/or targeted immunotherapies are needed in addition to surgery. <\/p>\n

\u201cUsually, some combination of these modalities is tailored to fit the individual patient and cancer,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

When To See A Doctor About Colorectal Cancer Concerns<\/p>\n

Since seemingly \u201cnormal\u201d symptoms can be signs of cancer \u2014 and since early detection is so helpful \u2014 seeing a doctor sooner rather than later is paramount.<\/p>\n

Thanki and Asamoah recommended making an appointment when you experience an onset of any of those symptoms mentioned above. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf anything feels off about your GI tract and digestion and doesn\u2019t get better within a few weeks, go see a doctor,\u201d Thanki said. \u201cThe last thing you want to do is ignore a change in your bowel habits for months or years and then realize it is from an advanced cancer that could have been curable when you first noticed symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even if it\u2019s not cancer, he continued, it could be several other treatable conditions that could also have negative long-term effects if left untreated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest message I would share is that colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers we face today,\u201d Carter said. \u201cEarly detection dramatically improves outcomes.\u201d <\/p>\n

The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.<\/p>\n