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What Causes Change In Color Of Stools With Family History Of Colon Cancer?
Question: I have a change in my stool: no blood but very light color and very, very thin about the size of a pencil or less. Could this be polyps? I do have a history of them and family hx of colon CA.
Brief Answer:
Please consult PCP, suggested colonoscopy and stool test for occult blood
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. With a strong family history of polyps in large bowel and colon cancer, any suspicious alteration in stool and/or blood in stool requires detailed investigation and surveillance. There might be a condition like polyps or colon wall thickening.
2. Please consult your PCP and inform him in detail about the recent onset change in stool and a strong family history of colonic cancer. Please inform your PCP of any significant weight loss in past 6 months.
3. It will help to get your stool sample tested for occult blood. Occult blood in stool is blood that is not visible easily to the eye but will be confirmed by doing chemical tests in the laboratory. Since the stool has suddenly changed, therefore any luminal changes in the colon must also be looked for.
4. There is also a need to do fiberoptic colonoscopy if you have npt got it done in the recent past. This is routinely recommended in those with strong family history of colon cancer to be done once in 5 years, especially in the elderly.
5. If you are not comfortable with minimally invasive fiberoptic colonoscopy then you can choose to get virtual CT colonoscopy to be done.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please consult PCP, suggested colonoscopy and stool test for occult blood
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. With a strong family history of polyps in large bowel and colon cancer, any suspicious alteration in stool and/or blood in stool requires detailed investigation and surveillance. There might be a condition like polyps or colon wall thickening.
2. Please consult your PCP and inform him in detail about the recent onset change in stool and a strong family history of colonic cancer. Please inform your PCP of any significant weight loss in past 6 months.
3. It will help to get your stool sample tested for occult blood. Occult blood in stool is blood that is not visible easily to the eye but will be confirmed by doing chemical tests in the laboratory. Since the stool has suddenly changed, therefore any luminal changes in the colon must also be looked for.
4. There is also a need to do fiberoptic colonoscopy if you have npt got it done in the recent past. This is routinely recommended in those with strong family history of colon cancer to be done once in 5 years, especially in the elderly.
5. If you are not comfortable with minimally invasive fiberoptic colonoscopy then you can choose to get virtual CT colonoscopy to be done.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Answered by
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