Question: Does Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lead To Cancer Or IBD?
Answer: The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, and even constipation. These symptoms may also occur in people who have colon cancer or who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Could IBS actually be a precursor to a more serious disease such as bowel cancer, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis?
In short: no. IBS is not a progressive condition; it does not "turn into" colon or rectal cancer or to IBD. IBS is a frustratingly difficult condition to have, and to treat, but it does not cause the intestines to develop ulcers or cancers. Even though IBS can be very painful and disruptive, it is considered a functional disorder, and does not cause damage to the digestive tract. Although patients with IBS don't go on to develop IBD or cancer, the symptoms sometimes overlap, so misdiagnoses do occasionally occur.
Source:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. "Irritable Bowel Syndrome." National Institutes of Health Publication No. 07–693 Sep 2007. 15 Feb 2011.
