Side Effect: Flatulence

What is Flatulence?

Flatulence, also known as passing gas or farting, is the release of gas from the digestive system through the rectum. Flatulence can vary in appearance and smell depending on the composition of the gas and the individual's diet and health status. Generally, flatulence is a mixture of gases including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of methane, hydrogen, and other gases. The smell of flatulence is caused by the presence of sulfur-containing compounds, which are produced by bacteria in the colon as they break down food.

Who gets Flatulence?

In patients being treated for cancer flatulence can be caused by the disease itself or its treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Cancer treatment can change the rate at which you digest food, often leading to constipation or diarrhea, but even if you do not have these symptoms excess gas can still be produced. Cancer treatments also affect the bacteria in the digestive tract which contributes to excess gas.

How to prevent Flatulence

To help prevent excess flatulence exercise and dietary modifications may be helpful. Eating smaller meals and avoiding foods that are spicy, fatty, or difficult to digest can decrease the amount of gas produced in the digestive tract. It can also help to decrease the amount of air that is being swallowed by avoiding straws, chewing with your mouth closed, avoiding gum, and avoiding carbonated beverages.

How to treat Flatulence

Treatment options for flatulence include dietary changes, such as avoiding gas-producing foods or following a low-FODMAP diet. If the flatulence is caused by constipation or bacterial overgrowth in the intestine, then it will be necessary to address the underlying issue. If possible, it might be helpful to meet with a dietician who can help you identify foods that might be making the issue worse and come up with a plan to decrease the issue moving forward. In some cases, an over-the-counter medication such as simethicone (Gas-X®) can be used to help with excess gas.