What is the difference between the symptoms of lactose intolerance and of colon cancer? Is excessive gas a sign of colon cancer?

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Lactose intolerance is a very common condition among most peoples in the world other than Northern and Western Europeans. As these people grow up, their bodies gradually stop producing the intestinal enzyme (lactase) needed to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk products. If lactose is not absorbed by the body, it is carried into the colon, where bacteria may consume it and release gassy byproducts. Some undigested lactose may also pass directly into the stool, taking extra water along with it. Thus, the symptoms of lactose intolerance include excessive gas, abdominal cramping and watery diarrhea.

Most patients eventually link their symptoms to consumption of dairy foods and avoid them. Some may also turn to lactose-free milk and dairy products or take lactase tablets to replace the missing enzyme. Lactose intolerance does not lead to any other complications.

Excessive gas is not a common symptom of colon cancer. However, since gas is such a common complaint in general, it may be found in someone with colon cancer. The most common symptoms of colon cancer include bleeding from the rectum, anemia, abdominal pain and a change in bowel habits (such as recent-onset constipation, thinner stools or looser stools).

People who are concerned about abdominal symptoms should see their doctors to discuss their problems in greater detail. Often, the patient will be referred to a gastroenterologist, and the decision about whether to pursue further tests (such as a colonoscopy) to evaluate the symptoms can then be made.