Signs of colon cancer in stool

Why is normal bowel movement an important indicator of human health? This is because while the digestive tract continuously absorbs energy and nutrients, it also produces a lot of waste. If these wastes are not properly excreted, they may affect your health. The American website "Life Science" published an article on March 5, summarizing the health information we can learn from defecation.

Shape: Changes in the shape or texture of your stool can indicate a variety of health problems. Narrower, thinner stools may be a symptom of colon cancer, while soft stools may be a sign of chronic pancreatitis.

Size: Smaller stool size is often associated with constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, or the development of colon cancer. A diet high in dietary fiber can help increase stool size and get your diet back on track, thus avoiding the above problems.

Odor: Although the smell of poop is unpleasant, it should also be a cause for concern if it has a strong odor. This could be a sign that you're not going to the bathroom often enough, have an infection, or are eating too much fat in your diet. The medications you take can also affect the smell of your stool, so if you experience any abnormalities in your stool while taking prescription medications, you should consult your doctor.

Color: Stool is usually brown in color because bile is a normal secretion of the digestive tract. If your stool is pale, black, or yellow, there may be a health concern. Red stool indicates the presence of blood (which is a serious problem) from the lower part of the digestive system, such as the large intestine, rectum, or anus; black stool means bleeding in the stomach or small intestine; yellow stool may be a gallbladder disorder; white stool indicates that the body cannot absorb fat properly, which may lead to pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. Therefore, if you have abnormal stool, you should consult a doctor immediately.