Passing wind

Passing wind is normal for everyone. It is not usually a serious problem or a sign that your cancer is getting worse. But it can be embarrassing, worrying and uncomfortable. Wind is also called flatus, flatulence, and farting. 

On average people pass wind about 15 to 25 times a day. But sometimes illness, what you eat, and stress can increase the amount of wind you pass.

Causes of wind

Sometimes cancer or its treatment causes too much gas in the digestive system , making you pass wind more often than usual. Having wind can also make your tummy feel bloated and uncomfortable.

Several things can make wind worse. Some of these include:

• swallowing too much air

• drinking gassy or fizzy drinks, including beer

• smoking

• lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found mainly in milk and dairy products

• side effects of some medicines

Eating certain high fibre foods can also make your wind worse. Some of these include:

• pulses such as beans and lentils

• vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, onions and artichokes

• apples, prunes and raisins

Speak to your specialist nurse or doctor if you have wind and:

• have tummy (abdominal) pain
• feel sick
• you are losing weight 
• have blood in your poo 

Tips to reduce wind

It isn’t possible to stop passing wind altogether, but some things can help to control it. 

Try some of the following:

• avoiding foods that make it worse, such as cabbage, corn, brussel sprouts, onions, beans and cauliflower

• drink and chew your food slowly, with your mouth closed. This helps to reduce the amount of air you swallow and help to break food down

• eating ginger - this is said to help digestion

• drinking peppermint or fennel tea

• gentle exercise - this can help your body digest food

You might also find it better to eat small meals throughout the day, rather than large ones. Having smaller meals regularly and eating slowly makes it easier to digest the food and you may produce less wind.

It may help to keep a diary of the food you have. You may notice that certain foods affect the amount of wind you pass.

Some processed foods contain ingredients that can cause wind, for example, sweeteners or preservatives.

You can help to reduce wind by cutting out:

• any foods or drinks containing artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol

• hard sweets and chewing gum, as this increases the amount of air you swallow

• fizzy drinks

What to do if you still have wind

Talk to your specialist nurse or doctor if the wind continues. They may be able to prescribe medicines to help. They can also refer you to a dietitian, who will be able to recommend other changes you can make to your diet.