Colon cancer can sometimes cause large bowel obstruction which is a blockage of the large intestine that prevents food or liquid passing through and is regarded as a surgical emergency, says Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. Some of the most common symptoms include constipation, abdominal swelling, pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting. Dr. Yeo says “if we don’t do surgery for those patients, they can actually have a perforation or a rupture.” This is a serious condition that can even be life-threatening.
SurvivorNet Fact Checking and Medical Review Standards:
The SurvivorNet News Team creates high quality medical information that complies with our industry leading standards for factual accuracy and sourcing from leading experts at academic medical institutions. Every news article is thoroughly fact-checked by our physician collaborators. We vet each piece of work for factual integrity, impartiality, and clearly label any professional conflicts.
All SurvivorNet articles adhere to the following standards:
- All studies and research papers cited are from reputable academic medical institutions or peer-reviewed journals.
- When we use data, statistics, or quotes these references link to the original source.
- All content related to new treatments, drugs, procedures, and so on must clearly describe availability, side effects, treatment target (such as triple negative breast cancer)
- All medical information on SurvivorNet is sourced from respected medical professionals with verified medical credentials and links are provided to these sources.
- We strive to give the reader relevant background information and include, clearly-sourced contextual health information in all articles. Readers are clearly alerted to any conflicts of interest from a medical source or the authors of a cited study.
Treating a Bowel Obstruction Caused by Colon Cancer
AI-Powered by My Health Questions
Built by medical professionals
Want to dive deeper into this article?
Try asking any of the questions below:

Please confirm you are a US based health care provider:
Yes, I am a health care Provider No, I am not a health care providerSign Up Now.
Take Control of Your Disease Journey.
Sign up now for expert patient guides, personalized treatment options, and cutting-edge insights that can help you push for the best care plan.