Digestive Disorders and Gastroenterology

Cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and lactose intolerance

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of symptoms that occur together, including repeated pain in the abdomen and changes in bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation, or both. With IBS, the patient has these symptoms without any visible signs of damage or disease in his digestive tract. The most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are pain in the abdomen, often related to bowel movements, and changes in bowel movements. These changes may be diarrhea, constipation, or both, depending on what type of IBS patients have. Doctors aren’t sure what causes IBS.

If you have lactose intolerance, you have digestive symptoms—such as bloating, diarrhea, and gas—after you consume foods or drinks that contain lactose. Lactose intolerance may affect your health if it keeps you from getting enough nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D. Symptoms of lactose intolerance may include bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and pain in your abdomen. Lactose intolerance is caused by lactose malabsorption, a condition in which your small intestine makes low levels of lactase and can’t digest all the lactose you eat or drink.