Is this a reason to stop worrying?

Hi all,

since around the beginning of November, I've had strange stool, they have always been either flat, flat on one side or round but fairly thin. I had bloods taken which are clear, a calprotecin test which was clear (I did have one that was positive but since I was on NSAID's at the time I had to retake) and a FIT test which was positive. I now have a colonoscopy booked in on the 8th as a result of this. I'm fairly certain that I have internal hemmeroids which caused this result, because of itching and sometimes blood after wiping which is bright and looks fresh. My FIT was 40 which i heard is not extremely high. I also had a really cracked nose that bled a lot at the time which could also cause a high result so there's that.

 

So today, I passed a stool that was completely healthy looking, perfect shaped and really thick as a healthy one would be. The colour was also a medium brown so that looked healthy. My question is, if I had a tumour would by stool always be flat/grooved? I would suspect that it can't just disappear so my stool today may be a sign that I can stop worrying so much.

 

I'm a 22 year old male if that counts for anything.

Thanks everyone!

  • Hi,

    Once we start worrying about something we all tend to overthink things.

    Ordinarily you wouldn't notice the shape of your poo, so wouldn't worry about it. Whatever you do, please don't cancel your colonoscopy! I've been in a similar position in the past due to a non-cancerous bowel disease. Those symptoms could be signs of one of a dozen things. I hope the colonoscopy will give you some clear answers. 

    Good luck

    Dave

  • I don't know how much reassurance you should take from that, but I do know that at 22, bowel cancer would be extremely rare. Something like 99% of cases are in over 40s. I was 40 when I had some symptoms and the consultant told me that at my age, bowel cancer would be the least likely of all the options and that it was probably piles, which is all they found when they did a colonoscopy.

    Piles can definitely cause bleeding and I think they can also cause narrow stools. I know that I got quite a few thinner than usual stools when I was awaiting the colonoscopy, although as davek says, one wouldn't normally notice the shape of stools, so it may be partly that I was paying more attention.