Stomach sounds, often referred to as bowel sounds or stomach gurgling, are a natural part of digestion and are usually harmless. However, if these sounds become persistent or seem unusual, they could signal an underlying issue, such as bowel cancer.
While these noises are common and not always a cause for concern, in the case of bowel cancer, they might indicate something more serious, like a partial blockage or a change in bowel habits.
Detecting bowel cancer early can improve treatment outcomes. Even though some symptoms are common and may be caused by other conditions, it’s important to see a doctor if you experience them.
Through this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about bowel cancer stomach noises.
Causes of Stomach Noises
Although stomach noises can indicate bowel cancer, it’s important to understand that various other causes can also result in these sounds. These causes include:
- Presence of liquid in the intestines
- Food intolerances
- Digestive processes
- Contractions of the intestinal wall muscles
- Presence of gas in the intestines
- Celiac disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Dyspepsia
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Other malabsorption issues, such as lactose intolerance, can lead to stomach rumbling and other symptoms.
However, if other symptoms are present, such as pain or discomfort, it may indicate the presence of an underlying condition. For example, hyperactive bowel sounds often accompany diarrhoea, which intensifies the noises of muscle movements, liquid, and gas in the stomach.
Are Stomach Noises a Cause of Bowel Cancer?
Bowel cancer can sometimes cause stomach noises, especially when a tumour creates a partial or full blockage in the intestines. These blockages can interfere with the usual movement of gas, fluids, and food through the digestive system, leading to more noticeable gurgling or rumbling sounds, known as borborygmi. While these noises are quite common and typically not linked to cancer, if they occur along with other symptoms like changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, or blood in the stool, it could be a sign to seek further medical attention.
Doctors occasionally listen to stomach noises to assess bowel movement, which can be influenced by gastrointestinal problems, including cancer. Some bowel cancer patients report abnormal stomach sounds, but it’s more common for them to notice changes in bowel movements or blood in their stool.
A tumour in the intestines can block the flow of digested food, forcing the muscles in the intestines to work harder to push the food through, which can also result in louder stomach sounds.
Another possible reason could be inflammation in the intestines as the immune system tries to fight the cancer cells. Inflammation of the intestines can narrow them, making it more difficult for food to move through and possibly producing louder sounds. Additionally, it may throw off the normal balance of gut bacteria, which could result in an accumulation of gas and digestive secretions, bloating, and rumbling sounds.
How Does Bowel Cancer Cause Unusual Stomach Noises?
Bowel cancer can change how your stomach works. Cancer can make it hard for things to move through your intestines like they should. This can cause your stomach to make unusual noises and build up more gas than usual. As the cancer develops, it can block your intestine and make it difficult for things to pass through. This can lead to more gas and different movements in your stomach, which can cause louder and more frequent noises than usual.
Blockages caused by cancer can lead to stomach making gurgling noises, excessive bloating, and tummy rumbling. This can also cause severe stomach pain and gurgling, vomiting, or, in extreme cases, loss of blood supply to the intestines, which can become life-threatening.
Difference Between Normal Stomach Rumbling and Bowel Cancer Symptoms
Everyone’s stomach makes noise and that is usually normal. The key is knowing when it is just digestion and when it could be a warning sign.
Normal stomach rumbling:
- Happens when you are hungry, after eating, or if you have had fizzy drinks or gas-producing foods.
- The sound is simply your intestines moving food, gas, and fluids.
- It comes and goes without causing pain or changes in bowel habits.
- If the noise is the only thing happening, it is almost always harmless.
Possible bowel cancer-related rumbling:
- Noises may be louder, more frequent, or feel different because the bowel is struggling to move food and gas.
- Tumours can narrow or block the intestine, which makes digestion noisier.
- The important thing is whether other symptoms show up along with the noises, such as:
- Blood in stool, either bright red or black
- Ongoing stomach pain or cramping
- Long-lasting diarrhoea or constipation
- Unexplained weight loss or tiredness
- These symptoms do not usually improve on their own and may gradually become worse.
When Stomach Noises May Indicate Cancer?
In the early stages of colorectal cancer, a person might not exhibit any signs or symptoms. However, as the cancer progresses, it can lead to the symptoms developing, including potentially causing the stomach to produce more noise than usual.
Certain stomach noises are considered normal and may help indicate a problem if other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, are present.
Changes in bowel function or tumour growth can lead to noise as gas and other substances move through the digestive tract.
Symptoms of colorectal cancer that might manifest alongside unusual noises may consist of:
- Persistent abdominal aches, cramps, or pain
- The sensation of incomplete bowel emptying
- Alterations in bowel habits
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Presence of blood in the stool
These symptoms could be indicative of various underlying conditions. Individuals experiencing one or more of these symptoms should consider consulting a physician, as they can help identify the underlying cause of their symptoms.
If these symptoms are present, your doctor may refer you for further tests, such as endoscopy or camera tests in your back passage or body scans such as CT scans or MRI scans. In most cases, abnormal bowel sounds is usually transient and not due to anything serious.
What Tests Diagnose Bowel Cancer?
Doctors may suggest:
- Faecal occult blood test (FOBT): Finds hidden blood in stool.
- Colonoscopy: Direct camera test of the bowel.
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy: Examines part of the bowel.
- CT or MRI scans: Check if cancer has spread.
- Biopsy: Confirms diagnosis with tissue samples.
Treatment Options for Bowel Cancer
When deciding on treatment, your overall health, age, and the size, stage, type, and grade of the cancer will affect your options. In the early stages, surgery might involve removing a small part of the bowel lining or the entire bowel. The surgeries for bowel cancer include resection and colectomy.
Your specialist will thoroughly discuss the best treatment option with you. It might be helpful to bring a list of questions with you, as dealing with the diagnosis can be emotional, and it can be challenging to remember everything.
Early diagnosis is crucial, and treatments like colectomy surgery offer more favourable results when bowel cancer is detected early. The bowel cancer survival rate depends on the stage of the cancer. The earlier the stage, the greater the chance of survival. It’s crucial to seek medical advice and attempt to diagnose if you suspect you may have or are at risk of bowel cancer.
When to See a Doctor?
If a person experiences any of the following, they may want to reach out to a doctor:
- Seeing blood in their stool
- Noticing changes in their bowel movements
- Having persistent abdominal pain
Although these are usual indications of colorectal cancer, their presence doesn’t automatically indicate cancer. Consulting a doctor can assist in ruling out cancer and identifying the root cause.
Final Thoughts
If your stomach makes a lot of noise, it’s usually normal digestion. But if it’s really loud and happens often, it might not just be hunger or digestion. You should see a doctor right away, especially if you also have other symptoms like stomach pain, bleeding from the bottom, or changes in how often you use the bathroom.
Finding the problem early is really important for getting the best treatment. Common early signs include changes in how often you use the bathroom, blood in your stool, stomach pain, and losing weight without trying. Signs that the cancer has developed include really bad stomach pain and visible changes in lumps. However, getting checked regularly and paying attention to symptoms is important for stopping and treating bowel cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the warning signs of bowel cancer?
Bowel cancer signs might include:
- Changes in bowel habits, like going to the bathroom more often, looser stools, or constipation that lasts for a while.
- Blood in the stool, which could be bright red or dark.
- Long-term abdominal discomfort, like pain, bloating, or cramps.
- Feeling like the bowel doesn’t empty after going to the bathroom.
- Weight loss
- Feeling tired or fatigued could be due to anaemia from having too few red blood cells.
2. Can colon cancer cause your stomach to make noises?
Colon cancer can change how often you need to use the bathroom and can cause your stomach to make strange sounds, like gurgling or rumbling. These sounds happen because things like gas and other stuff in your intestines don’t move the way they should, often due to tumours blocking or narrowing the bowel.
3. How long can you have bowel cancer without knowing?
Some people can have bowel cancer for many years without realising it. Bowel cancer can grow at different rates depending on the type and its genes. Some cancers grow slowly and might not cause any symptoms at first, so the cancer can grow for a long time before it’s found. Finding cancer early through regular screening can greatly improve survival chances.
