Stringy stools can be a sign of cancer.
The number of bowel cancers is increasing worldwide. Ocskay Mark / Alamy Stock Photo
A certain stool shape, i.e. narrow poop, can be a sign of colon cancer. Typically, healthy stool is sausage-shaped and either thin or covered in fissures on the surface.
While the occasional loose stool may just be a sign of constipation, it can also indicate chronic digestive problems such as IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and even cancer. Other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation.
Looks like tape
A narrow stool may look like a strip or a pencil. Most often, this is a sign of constipation, which means having bowel movements less than three times a week or difficulty having a bowel movement. Constipation is often caused by lifestyle factors such as insufficient fiber intake, lack of drinking enough water and lack of regular exercise.
If string-like stools appear for more than a week, seek medical examination. Blood in the stool is also always a reason to get tested. Red or black stool may indicate bleeding. Red blood comes from the intestines, which may indicate hemorrhoids or a tumor. Black stool can mean bleeding in the digestive tract.
It is common not to consider the symptoms of colon cancer as serious, as the symptoms often appear gradually. Common signs can include, for example, bloody stools, changes in the functioning of the stomach, fatigue, pain or a lump and sudden weight loss.
The number of bowel cancers is increasing worldwide, especially among young people. More and more often in Finland, people who get colon cancer are under the age of 50.
Sources: DailyMail and the Iltalehti archive.
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