Can irritable bowel syndrome lead to cancer

Provided by CalculatorsWorld. Previous Next. Medically reviewed by Santosh Sanagapalli, MD. If you have IBS, you may be fearing eventual cancer, wondering if irritable bowel syndrome can lead to or increase cancer risk.

The symptoms of IBS are nearly identical to the symptoms of colon cancer. Abdominal pain is another classic feature of both irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer.

Is there a connection between IBS and colon cancer? The abnormal contractions with IBS can result in voiding pencil-thin stools. IBS is not a marker or a predictive value for future colon cancer or even precancerous polyps. The study investigated colonoscopy results of people with IBS. He performs diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures, and enjoys providing comprehensive and holistic care to patients with a wide variety of disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract.

Home » Cancer Topics » Gastrointestinal Cancers. Although the number of patients diagnosed with IBS is increasing, it is still a new GI diagnosis with limited data on its associated risk for cancer.

As more patients continue to be diagnosed with IBS, cancer risk will undoubtedly become one of the more crucial topics researched and discussed with patients.

Patients with IBS present with a multitude of symptoms, most of which are typically nonspecific. This can often complicate the differential diagnosis, as many GI malignancies, especially colorectal cancer CRC , will present with similar symptoms. Some of the most common presenting GI symptoms include chronic, nonlocalized abdominal pain and cramping, frequent alterations in bowel movements ranging from constipation to diarrhea , excessive bloating or flatulence, and mucus-containing stools.

In addition to their GI symptoms, patients with IBS can also present with general malaise, weight loss, and chronic pain as seen with fibromyalgia. Patients who present with alarming symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, melena, bright red blood per rectum, weight loss, gross laboratory abnormalities, or a strong family history of GI malignancies or inflammatory bowel disease IBD should always have life-threatening conditions ruled out initially while still including IBS on the differential diagnosis.

To be on the safe side, tell your doctor about new symptoms such as rectal bleeding, narrowed stool, or weight loss. Talk to your doctor about colon cancer screening. For most people, colonoscopy screening should begin at age If you have a family history of colon cancer or other risk factors, your doctor may recommend earlier or more frequent screening.

IBS can generally be managed by making certain dietary and other lifestyle changes. More severe cases can be treated with medications. Symptoms of colon cancer tend to appear only after the disease has spread. Screening for colon cancer can detect and remove precancerous polyps before they have the chance to develop into cancer.

Because the symptoms of IBS, colon cancer, and some other gastrointestinal disorders overlap, see a doctor to get the right diagnosis. They can help you manage or treat your condition so you can start feeling better. IBS has its own symptoms, but it often shares them with other conditions, such as Crohn's disease.

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