Bowel cancer is a type of cancer in the colon or rectum, also known as colorectal cancer. Symptoms associated with bowel cancer include stomach noises, which can be a sign of underlying issues in the digestive system. It may be a change in the digestive process caused by a tumor.
What are Stomach Noises?
Stomach noises, often referred to as borborygmi, are sounds produced by the movement of gas and fluids in the gastrointestinal tract. These noises are mainly produced by the stomach when food is being processed and digested through the stomach. Unusual noises may often be produced because of the presence of infection or cancer. In the cancerous stage of bowel cancer, it can lead to irregular contractions between the intestines, producing sound. These noises are typically harmless in the context of bowel cancer.
Causes of Stomach Noises
Some causes of these noises include:
- Digestion process
- Presence of liquid in the intestine and stomach
- Contraction in the intestinal wall
- Crohn’s or celiac disease
- Bowel syndrome
- Dyspepsia
- Gastrointestinal infection
- Inflammation or irritation
- Malabsorption of nutrients
Hyperactive bowel sounds often cause constipation.
The Connection between Bowel Cancer and Stomach Noises
- Obstruction in the Bowel
Bowel cancer can affect the efficiency of the digestive system, leading to a variety of symptoms such as abdominal pain and weight loss. Bowel cancer can progressively cause blockage in the colon and its cells, leading to the formation of gas bubbles and fluids. The obstruction makes the noises louder. In some cases, obstruction can cause bloating and cramping.
- Change in Digestion
Bowel cancer can disrupt the digestive process and cause malabsorption issues. Through malabsorption of many nutrients, these changes can increase the production of gas bubbles, leading to more stomach noises. Tumors that are present in the gastrointestinal tract can cause unusual sounds.
- Inflammation and Irritation
Cancer cells that are present in the bowel can cause inflammation and irritation in the intestinal tract, leading to increased mobility and movement of the intestine. Inflammation can cause other symptoms like diarrhea and constipation.
- Secondary Effect of Treatment
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can treat bowel cancer, but they have side effects on the digestive cells because, in radiation, cancerous cells are killed, and normal cells are also killed. These treatments may also cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in bowel habits. All of these cases may significantly increase stomach noises. In addition, surgery to remove the cancerous part of the bowel can alter the normal functioning of the digestive system.
When to Seek Medical Attention
- Changes in Bowel Habits
If you notice any changes in bowel habits like diarrhea and constipation, you should go to your physician for early prevention. Physicians will treat you according to your symptoms.
- Abdominal Pain or Discomfort
If you experience any abdominal pain, cramping, or constipation, especially with stomach noises, it may indicate a serious and potentially fatal condition.
- Unexplained Weight Loss
Losing weight without any reason can indicate a sign of bowel cancer and a fatal sign of various health issues.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If you experience unusual stomach noises along with other symptoms, your physician may recommend a series of tests to determine the underlying issues causing them. These tests include:
- Colonoscopy: A process where a doctor examines the inside of your colon or rectum and notices any abnormalities, such as cancerous cells.
- Imaging Tests: CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays may be used to get a detailed view of your digestive tract and identify any cancer or blockage of tumors in the digestive system.
- Blood Test: Blood tests are very important to notice all the elements present in the blood and identify diseases like bowel cancer or anemia.
- Stool Test: A stool test may be used to indicate the presence of problems in the blood that could lead to cancer in the bowel.
Treatment through Garlic
Results from the Iowa Women’s Health Study, a prospective cohort study, found that the strongest association among fruits and vegetables for colon cancer risk reduction was for garlic consumption, with a reduced risk of approximately 50% in distal colon cancer associated with high garlic consumption.
Additionally, a meta-analysis of data from seven epidemiological studies found an inverse association between raw and cooked garlic consumption and both stomach and colorectal cancer risk.
Mechanism of Action of Garlic
Garlic and its related sulfur components suppress cancer risk and alter the biological behavior of tumors.
- Overall, garlic and its associated sulfur components have been found to suppress the incidence of mammary, colon, skin, uterine, esophageal, lung, renal, forestomach, and liver cancers.
Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are a proposed early pre-neoplastic lesion of adenoma-carcinoma in humans and chemically induced colon cancer in rodents.
- In many preclinical studies, both water- and lipid-soluble allyl sulfur compounds administered to animals through their diet have been reported to inhibit ACF.
Cancer protection may arise from several mechanisms, including blockage of carcinogen formation, suppressed bioactivation of carcinogens, enhanced DNA repair, reduced cell proliferation, and/or induction of apoptosis.
Summary
This blog provides total information about bowel cancer related to stomach noises. If you notice or identify any symptoms related to cancer, it is always best to consult your physician for better personal advice and proper guidelines according to your disease.
