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What Causes Thin Bowel Movement?
Question: Hello, I have been having thin like stools on and off for some time now. Usually thin for a day or two, than full size for a few months, than back again, and so on.
No other symptons and my GP tells me it is nothing to worry about. I am 39 years old, no family history of cancer, don't smoke or drink, exercise 5 days per week. Eat very healthy but am I bit concern over colon cancer. Nothing came up abnormal during my recent physical blood test (not sure if this would have shown anything anyway).
That being said, I do suffer from health aniety.
Brief Answer:
not to worry
Detailed Answer:
if you have no family history of colon cancer and you have no blood in stools, it is highly unlikely that you have something to worry about.
Current recommendations are to start doing colonoscopies to look for colon cancer and polyps at age 50 (UNLESS: you have family history of colon cancer or polyps, or again you have any alarm symptom such as blood in stool, weight loss, diarrhea, severe constipation, etc).
You should talk to a gastroenterologist if you are still concerned about colon cancer.
Colonoscopy is the best way to check, but other less invasive methods exist, such as stool testing for blood, barium enema (xray test), virtual colonoscopy (its with a CT scan).
Aspirin at low doses (81mg - or also called baby aspirin) reduces the risk of developing colon polyps and therefore cancer.
Hope that helped
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the quick response. Would signs of cancer show up during a routine physical blood test? My GP also pressed down on my stomach. Just curious, what was he looking for?
Thanks again.
Brief Answer:
large mass
Detailed Answer:
just a large mass would be appreciated on physical exam, so that what your GP was looking for. Also to see if you have any pain or discomfort while he was pressing.
The only thing that could suggest something is possibly wrong regarding your colon with routine blood tests would be a low hemoglobin (anemia).
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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