The Connection Between Bowel Cancer And Incontinence

Bowel cancer incontinence is far more common than many realise. In fact, the UK yearly average of new bowel cancer cases is around 44,000 according to Cancer Research UK, taken from the 2017-2019 average.

In this blog, we’ll look at the connection between bowel cancer and incontinence, explaining how bowel cancer and its treatments can impact bowel control, what symptoms to look out for, and how you can manage incontinence after it.

A diagnosis of bowel cancer can be life-changing. But it doesn’t need to be faced alone. For some people, one of the most unexpected things that can come with bowel cancer is the loss of bowel control, but it’s important to know that effective support is available.

Bowel cancer develops in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum. It starts from small growths called polyps, which can become cancerous. This is why early detection is crucial, as it can significantly improve the outcome.

One way to support this is through increasing awareness of symptoms and encouraging screening.  

Many cases of bowel cancer begin with the development of polyps. These are small growths on the inner lining of the bowel that are usually benign (not dangerous/cancerous).

Over time, some polyps can change and become cancerous if they are not detected and removed.

This slow progression is why bowel cancer screening is so effective at preventing the disease or identifying it at an early stage.

Lifestyle choices play an important role in bowel health too. Diets high in processed foods or red meat and low in fibre may affect how the bowel functions over time.

Meanwhile low levels of physical activity, obesity, smoking and regular alcohol consumption have all been linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer, partly due to their effects on inflammation and cell damage.

Age is one of the biggest factors in bowel cancer rates, with more than two-fifths (43%) of all new bowel cancer cases in the UK each year being diagnosed in people aged 75 and over. 

Having a close family member who has had bowel cancer or certain inherited genetic conditions can increase risk. Bowel Cancer UK say:

“Around 5-10% of all bowel cancer cases are thought to be caused by a change in a known gene. The changed gene can be passed down through a family. If you have the changed gene, you may have a higher chance of getting bowel cancer at some point in your life”.

Treatment depends on a range of factors, like the type, location and stage of the disease, as well as your own health.

Healthcare professionals will decide on the best plan of action after discussion with you, factoring in all the above.

After treatment, there’s a chance that it can have a lasting impact on bowel function.

Surgery is one of the most common treatments for bowel cancer. It may involve removing part of the bowel and reconnecting the remaining sections. Sometimes a temporary or permanent stoma is required after surgery. 

This can affect bowel control by altering bowel capacity, changing how stool is stored, or damaging the muscles and nerves in the area, potentially leading to urgency, leakage, or difficulty reaching the toilet in time.

This method is often used in the treatment of rectal cancer, either before surgery to shrink a tumour, or after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer coming back. It uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells or prevent them from growing and dividing.

The radiation is carefully targeted, but because the rectum and surrounding tissues are closely packed together, healthy tissue can sometimes be affected as well.

As radiotherapy works, it can cause inflammation in the lining of the bowel and surrounding muscles. Over time, this inflammation could lead to scarring and reduced flexibility in the rectum, meaning it can’t store stool as effectively as before.

Radiation can also affect the nerves and sphincter muscles that help control bowel movements.

Chemotherapy involves the use of medication to kill cancer cells or stop them from multiplying.

This works throughout the body, making it good for targeting cancer cells that might spread outside the bowel, and it is usually used alongside other treatments to improve long-term outcomes. 

Because chemotherapy drugs affect fast-growing cells, they can also impact the lining of the digestive system. This may interfere with how the bowel absorbs fluids and processes waste, leading to side effects such as diarrhoea, cramping, or unpredictable bowel movements.

For more information, see the NHS’s tests and treatments chemotherapy page.

To understand the connection between cancer and incontinence, it helps to know how bowel control normally works.

Continence relies on the interaction of the rectum, pelvic floor muscles, sphincter muscles, and nerves to allow the bowel to store stool and release it when you go to the toilet. 

Unfortunately, bowel cancer itself can disrupt this balance, especially if a tumour affects the rectum or nearby nerves.

As we mentioned earlier, treatment can interfere with muscle strength, nerve signalling and bowel capacity.

Because of this, people might experience:

• Faecal incontinence (leakage of stool)
• Urgency or difficulty delaying bowel movements
• Frequent bowel movements
• Accidental soiling, especially at night

Yes, bowel cancer can cause incontinence both directly and indirectly. 

A tumour may interfere with normal bowel function, while surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy can damage certain bowel areas for reasons we discussed earlier. 

It’s also quite common for the consistency of your poo to change after treatment.

It’s something we say often here, but there really isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to managing bowel incontinence.

Gaining medical advice and practical support can help you regain confidence and independence.

Medical management might include pelvic floor exercises, bowel retraining, dietary adjustments or medication, all of which your GP can educate you on and suggest the best methods for you. 

Practical products also play a vital role. Incontinence pads offer discreet protection for light to moderate leakage, while incontinence pants provide a secure, underwear-like option for day-to-day use.

For heavier or overnight needs, adult nappies can offer reliable protection and peace of mind.

Make the day-to-day life more manageable by finding the right support today. Whether symptoms are temporary or ongoing, having reliable protection can help restore confidence, comfort and independence, allowing you to focus on recovery and wellbeing rather than worry.

To support different needs and lifestyles, we offer a carefully selected range of male incontinence products, female incontinence products, and disposable incontinence pants.

Designed for comfort, discretion and protection, our products help you to manage bowel cancer incontinence with no stress.