Five warning signs of cancer in your poo – ‘Book an appointment with your GP’

While looking into the toilet bowl after you just went for a number two might be the last thing you want to do, your poo could alert you to many different health problems.

From inflammatory bowel diseases to cancer, the consistency and colour of your stool could be important warning signs you shouldn’t ignore.

This also makes knowing what’s normal when it comes to your bowel habits key.

Identifying any worrying changes early could mean the difference between letting cancer slip under the radar and catching the condition promptly.

Fortunately, Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at Chemist Click, shared the five warning signs that could signal that your poo is cancerous.

According to the expert, the main signs of cancer that can crop up on the loo include:

• Poo which is black or dark red and bloody diarrhoea
• Changes in your poo (such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you)
• Needing to poo more or less often 
• Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
• Bleeding from your bottom.

While these changes could be pointing to plenty of benign conditions, they could also be a sign of colorectal, anal, pancreatic or gastrointestinal cancers.

Colorectal cancer

The pharmacist explained that this type of cancer often causes persistent changes in bowel habits, persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, and anaemia.

Anal cancer

Apart from changes in your stool, anal cancer can also trigger persistent anal pain, discomfort and itching in the anal area.

Pancreatic cancer

This type of cancer is characterised by stool that is pale and greasy in appearance and difficult to flush.

Kanani added you might also experience unexplained weight loss and persistent abdominal pain or discomfort.

Gastrointestinal cancers (such as colon, rectal, or stomach cancer)

“Anaemia resulting from chronic blood loss from the digestive tract can be a common symptom in various types of gastrointestinal cancers,” the expert said.

What to do once you spot these signs?

If you experience any worrying changes in your bowel habits, the expert recommended to “book an appointment with your GP”.

Kanani added: “Try and record and provide information about the duration, frequency, and characteristics of the symptoms, as well as any other relevant information regarding your overall health, family history and lifestyle factors. 

“Diagnostic tests may be recommended in helping to identify the underlying cause of your symptoms, such as blood tests, stool tests, imaging scans (such as colonoscopy or endoscopy) or other specialised examinations. 

“Remember that while these signs can be concerning, they do not automatically mean you have a serious condition.”