Your toilet may hold more clues to your health than you realize, especially when it comes to detecting early signs of serious illnesses like bowel cancer. Observing changes in your stool could provide important insights.

While fluctuations in the color and texture of your stool are often harmless and linked to dietary changes, they can sometimes signal more serious health issues. For this reason, some health experts recommend taking a moment to check your stool before flushing.

According to NHS guidelines, one potential indicator of bowel cancer is the presence of blood in your stool, which may present as red or black. It’s crucial to seek medical advice from your GP if you notice this symptom persisting for more than three weeks.

Beyond color, the shape of your stool can also serve as a warning sign.

Stools that are notably thin or narrow could point to various health issues, including bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer.

The Bristol Stool Chart offers guidance on what healthy feces should resemble: a sausage shape, either smooth or slightly cracked on the surface. While an occasional narrow stool might simply indicate constipation, persistent changes could suggest chronic digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, or even cancer.

Narrow stools can resemble a ribbon or a pencil. In most cases, these symptoms can signify constipation, characterised by fewer than three bowel movements a week or difficulty in passing stool. This could be linked to lifestyle factors like inadequate fibre consumption, insufficient hydration, and lack of physical activity.

Nevertheless, Fight Colorectal Cancer cautions that thin stools could signal obstructions such as tumours, resulting from bowel cancer. The charity states: “For the most part, narrow stools that occur infrequently are not a cause for concern. But if you experience ribbon-like stools for more than a week, seek medical attention.”

Healthcare professionals at the Mayo Clinic in the US backed this warning. They explained: “Narrow stools that happen now and then probably are harmless.

“But in some cases, narrow stools – especially if pencil thin – may be a sign that the colon is narrowing or has a blockage. And that could be due to colon cancer. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) also may cause changes in the size of your stools.”

Additional bowel cancer warning signs

Bowel cancer is occasionally referred to as a “silent killer” because it frequently presents no symptoms during its initial phases. Nevertheless, the condition can also prompt further modifications to your bowel patterns.

The NHS recommends monitoring for: “Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you.”

It might also change how often you need to use the toilet. The NHS suggests ringing 111 or booking an urgent GP appointment if your stools appear black or dark red, or if you develop bloody diarrhoea.

Should there be persistent bleeding from your bottom, it’s advised to dial 999 straight away. Further signs of bowel cancer include:

• Frequently feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
• Abdominal pain
• A lump in your abdomen
• Bloating
• Unintentional weight loss
• Feeling extremely tired for no apparent reason

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s vital to seek advice from a GP.