Poop stuck in toilet bowl: a sign of colon cancer or other health warning?

Is stool sticking to the toilet a sign of colon cancer? This statement is not entirely accurate. Stool sticking to the toilet may be related to a variety of factors, including eating habits, intestinal health, etc. Although it may not be a direct sign of colon cancer, if this happens frequently, you should be alert to possible problems such as indigestion, colitis or colon polyps.

Possible reasons why stool sticks to the toilet:

The first reason may be the intake of too much greasy food. This eating habit may increase the digestive burden of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to indigestion, which in turn affects the shape of the stool, making it more sticky and difficult to flush. Red meat in particular is rich in sulfur, which may be converted into sulfides during the digestion process. These sulfides are the main source of stool odor. Indigestion may also prolong the residence time of food residues in the intestines. As the residence time increases, the accumulation of sulfides increases, further aggravating the odor of the stool and even affecting the smell of the expelled gas.

The second reason may be gastrointestinal dysfunction. For example, long-term stress, irregular work and rest habits, unbalanced eating patterns, and lack of adequate exercise may have a negative impact on gastrointestinal function. Once the gastrointestinal motility function is impaired, the viscosity of the stool may increase, making it easier to adhere to the surface of the toilet. In the face of such situations, patients are advised to go to the hospital for professional examination as soon as possible. A preliminary routine stool examination can help rule out some pathological factors. If the preliminary examination results are abnormal, further colonoscopy will help to gain a deeper understanding of the intestinal condition so that appropriate treatment measures can be taken.

Health warning signs of abnormal stool:

So what abnormalities in stool should we be extra vigilant about?

First, we should check whether the stool is normal from its appearance and color. For example, if there is blood in the stool, that is, the stool is red, this may be a sign of hemorrhoids, or it may be bleeding caused by colorectal related diseases such as polyps, tumors or even cancer.

If your stool is black, especially if it is typically tarry, or if it is streaked with blood, this may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding or the presence of a large intestine-related disorder, including the possibility of a gastrointestinal tumor.

White stools are also a warning sign because the color of stools often comes from bile. If your stool is white, clay, or off-white, it could mean a blockage in your bile duct, either from cholelithiasis or a problem with your pancreas that is compressing the bile duct.

Mucus, pus and blood in the stool may indicate severe inflammation or tumors in the intestine. In addition, if the stool is abnormally hard, similar to sheep feces, it may be due to insufficient water or dietary fiber intake in the diet, leading to constipation.

Secondly, we should also pay attention to changes in bowel habits. If the changes in bowel habits continue to not improve, we should go to the hospital for examination in time.

The first one is that the frequency has changed. Under normal circumstances, the frequency of bowel movements varies from person to person, and may be once a day, once every two days, or even once or twice a day. However, if the frequency of bowel movements changes suddenly, for example, from once a day to three to four times a day, or if there is a residual feeling after defecation, accompanied by blood in the stool, abdominal pain, weight loss, or unexplained anemia, these symptoms should arouse our high alertness.

The second is the abnormal shape of the stool. The ideal stool shape is soft and shaped like a banana. If the stool suddenly becomes thinner, or has obvious grooves on the surface, or has other abnormal shapes, and lasts for more than two weeks, this situation also needs attention.

The third one is, for example, if constipation and diarrhea alternate, sometimes it is diarrhea, sometimes it is constipation, this should also be a cause for concern.

Fourth, if the stool smells obviously abnormal, such as extremely foul, bloody, or rotten onion-like, it may indicate a problem with the intestines. In these cases, we should be the first person responsible for our own health and take timely action.

So, no matter what, if your stool often sticks to the toilet, it does not necessarily mean you have colon cancer. Don't worry too much and don't panic. However, you must closely observe changes in the color, properties, and frequency of your stool. This is especially important. If you find changes in the properties and shape of your stool, you must seek medical attention promptly and seek help from a professional doctor.

Author: Dr. Chrysanthemum Lin Guole Team

Reviewer: Wang Qiang, deputy chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Produced by: China Association for Science and Technology Department of Science Popularization

Producer: China Science and Technology Press Co., Ltd., Beijing Zhongke Xinghe Culture Media Co., Ltd.