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Bowel Incontinence (Stool Leakage)
Bowel incontinence can happen in people who have cancer. Even though bowel incontinence is not as common as bladder incontinence, it’s more common than most people think. People might not tell their doctor because they’re ashamed or embarrassed. But there are ways to manage and treat it, and your healthcare team wants to help you feel as good as you can.
What is bowel incontinence?
Bowel (or stool) incontinence is loss of control of your bowels. When this happens, stool (poop) can leak out. The bowels are organs that move and hold stool until you’re ready to have a bowel movement. This condition may also be called fecal incontinence.
Bowel incontinence can:
- Lead to skin irritation
- Affect your quality of life, your comfort, or your ability to do usual daily activities
- Contribute to anxiety, depression, and social isolation
What causes bowel incontinence in people with cancer?
Possible causes of bowel incontinence in people with cancer include:
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Medicines, such as laxatives
- Damage to the muscles or nerves in the bowel
- Rectal prolapse (when the rectum drops outside the body)
Cancer-related causes of bowel incontinence can include:
In advanced cancers that have spread to the spine, spinal cord compression can cause incontinence, too.
What are types of bowel incontinence?
There are 2 types of bowel incontinence:
- Urge incontinence is when you feel like you have to move your bowels (poop), but you cannot hold it long enough to get to a toilet.
- Passive incontinence is when you do not know or feel that you have to poop. You have no control over when your bowels allow stool to pass.
What are symptoms of bowel incontinence?
The symptoms of bowel incontinence usually depend on the type and cause of incontinence.
Some common symptoms include:
- Not being able to control gas or stool
- Urge to move your bowels that you cannot control
- Leaking liquid stool or mucus
- Having a bowel movement or leaking stool before you realize you need to go to the bathroom
Call 911 or go to the emergency room
Call 911 or your local emergency number or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- Bleeding from your rectum that will not stop
- Sudden, intense belly pain that will not stop
- Sudden loss of bowel control with back pain, leg weakness, or numbness in the legs or belly
Treatment for bowel incontinence
How long bowel incontinence lasts depends on what causes it. Having this condition for any amount of time can make daily activity challenging, and it can affect your mental wellbeing. Talk to your care team about treatments, products, or resources that can help you feel more comfortable or confident doing daily activities.
Bowel training means trying to have a bowel movement at the same time every day. You do this on schedule even when you don’t feel like you need to. You keep track of your bowel movements, if you were able to make it to the bathroom in time, and what you ate or drank before.
- Anti-diarrheal medicines can help with some types of bowel incontinence. Treating the cause of diarrhea, such as an infection, is important as well.
- Fiber supplements or stool softeners can help if bowel incontinence is caused by constipation.
- Other medicines may be used to treat bowel incontinence caused by another health condition, such as Crohn’s disease. Managing the condition will often help relieve incontinence.
Always check with your doctor before starting any new medicines or supplements, even if they’re available to purchase at pharmacies or stores (over the counter).
Pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises can strengthen the muscles that support the bowel, rectum, and anus. Healthcare providers, such as pelvic floor therapists trained in pelvic therapy, can help you create a therapy plan.
Pelvic floor physical therapists may use biofeedback as part of treatment. This uses sensors placed near the anus to show on a screen which pelvic muscles are being exercised. Pelvic therapy done with biofeedback often works better than the exercises alone.
You can ask your care team for a referral to a pelvic floor physical therapist. Or if you search for one yourself, check that they are trained in caring for people with cancer.
Contact your insurance to find out whether you need a referral to pelvic physical therapy to cover costs. Learn more about Managing Your Health Insurance and Medical Bills.
Surgery might be an option if bowel incontinence is related to damaged pelvic muscles that can be repaired, such as for hemorrhoids or rectal prolapse.
Sacral nerve stimulation might help people whose muscles that control the bowel are weak or damaged. During this treatment, a small device is placed under the skin. It sends electrical pulses to the nerves that help control the bowel. Doctors may suggest sacral nerve stimulation if other treatments do not help.
Tips to manage bowel incontinence
These tips can help you manage bowel incontinence day to day. Not every tip will work for everyone, so try the ones that fit your needs.
- Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners can irritate your bowels and make incontinence worse.
- Spicy foods, dairy, sugar, and fried or high-fat foods can also cause or worsen incontinence. Avoid the foods that cause problems for you.
A bowel diary can help you and your care team see patterns, find what triggers leaks, and tell if a treatment is working. You can use this from the or another method to track:
- When you move your bowel (poop) and how much
- When leaks happen and what you were doing
- Any other symptoms
- Many people with bowel incontinence have loose stools or diarrhea. If this is the case for you, eat more soluble fiber, including fruits and vegetables.
- Do not limit how much you eat or drink unless your care team tells you to. Limiting food and drink can lead to other problems, such as dehydration.
- If you wear incontinence products, change them as soon as they are wet or soiled. Stool left on the skin can cause irritation. Creams and lotions can protect the skin and help prevent skin damage or sores.
- Use wet wipes (without alcohol or perfumes) to gently clean yourself. Avoid excessive wiping. Apply a moisture barrier cream, such as zinc, to the area around the anus.
Bowel incontinence can cause embarrassment, and it can affect your mental and emotional health. Many people have bowel incontinence, even if they do not talk about it. Ask your cancer care team about support groups where you can talk with people who have had similar experiences.
When to talk to your doctor or cancer care team
Tell your care team if you have:
- New or worsening incontinence
- Cramping, discomfort, or pain when going to the bathroom
- Skin changes or irritation, such as redness, sores, or swelling
- Blood in your stool when you go to the bathroom
Ask your doctor or cancer care team what symptoms you should call about right away. Ask which symptoms you can wait until office hours to call about. Make sure you know who to contact when the office is closed or after business hours.
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- References
Developed by the 黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the 黑料大湿Posts Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
黑料大湿Posts Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). Fecal incontinence. Accessed at https://fascrs.org/Web/Web/Patients/Diseases-and-Conditions/A-Z/Fecal-Incontinence.aspx on September 18, 2026.
Lembo AJ and Spivak AR. Fecal incontinence in adults: management. UpToDate. Updated August 17,2026. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/fecal-incontinence-in-adults-management on September 18, 2026.
Lembo AJ. Patient education: fecal incontinence (beyond the basics). UpToDate. Updated February 9, 2026. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/fecal-incontinence-beyond-the-basics on September 18. 2026.
Rao SC, Bharucha AE, Carrington EV, Grossi, U, Malcom, A, Neshatia, L et al. Anorectal disorders. Gastroenterology. 2026; 170: 1318-1346.
Robson KM and Lembo AJ. Fecal incontinence in adults: etiology and evaluation. UpToDate. Updated February 27, 2025. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/fecal-incontinence-in-adults-etiology-and-evaluation on September 18, 2026.
Last Revised: October 8, 2026
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