The Link between Excessive Belching, Bowel Obstruction, and Colon Cancer: A Rare Sign of the Disease

Even though it is an atypical and quite rare sign, persistent belching (burping) or excess air in the stomach could signal intestinal occlusion (blockage or reduction of intestinal transit), as a result of the presence of a tumor on the colon. So is a 25-year-old Florida woman who discovered she had stage 3 colon cancer after going to the doctor because of the excessive belching and gastroesophageal reflux she was experiencing.

The link between excessive belching, bowel obstruction and colon cancer

“I burped 5-10 times a day, which was not normal for me,” the woman said in an interview for NeedtoKnow. However, the woman did not go to the doctor then, but ignored the symptom. Until other worrying manifestations appeared: pain during defecation, lack of appetite, gastroesophageal reflux.

As a nurse, the woman suspected that her symptoms might suggest intestinal occlusion, and the CT scan confirmed her suspicion. What’s more, he discovered that the blockage was caused by a tumor in her large intestine, and the woman was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.

“Excessive eructation is not usually found on the list of specific symptoms of colon cancer, but my oncologist told me that it was most likely the first sign of the disease in me, followed by gastroesophageal reflux,” added the woman, who between she was operated on for colon cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy sessions.

“Anything new to the way you feel, even if it’s considered normal, should make you think. I thought that belching is not something that can signal a health problem, that it is a normal thing. But it’s important to listen to our body,” added the woman.

Belching, a rare sign of colon cancer, which occurs mostly in young people

Specialists say that belching is not part of the picture of specific signs and symptoms of colon cancer.

“Most patients diagnosed with colon cancer have few symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease, and excessive belching is not one of them. In the rare cases when belching is related to colon cancer, it is most likely due to an intestinal blockage,” said oncologist surgeon Anton Bilchik for health.com.

In such situations, the person in question may also face symptoms such as: nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, feeling full immediately after a meal, acid reflux.

However, doctors say that this unusual symptom, namely excessive belching, may occur more frequently in people with left-sided colon cancer (usually diagnosed at a young age), where there is a greater risk of intestinal blockage.

“The left portion of the colon is narrower than the right, being more likely to create a blockage in this portion of the intestine,” explains gastroenterologist Tiago Bianchi.

Specific signs and symptoms of colon cancer

Other signs and symptoms of colon cancer are:

Although they can be specific to other conditions – such as hemorrhoids, infections, irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease -, these symptoms are worrying and should be reported to the doctor.

Colon cancer before age 50: causes

Specialists warn that such symptoms should not be overlooked, especially since the number of colon cancer cases among people under the age of 55 is constantly increasing. Currently, up to 20% of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in people under the age of 50, statistics show.

The alarming increase in the number of colon cancer cases in young people is, according to specialists, a consequence of several factors – genetic, environmental and dietary.

If genetic factors cannot be prevented, the same cannot be said about environmental and dietary factors. For example, giving up smoking and alcohol is a strategy that has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer.

Also, a clean diet, in which fried, very fatty, ultra-processed foods are missing, but in which fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean meat and water abound, is another method by which we can reduce our risk of disease.