Experts recommend checking the toilet after you go for this reason
Fiona Callingham Lifestyle writer
14:05, 28 Dec 2025Updated 14:14, 28 Dec 2025
Checking the toilet could help you spot warning signs of bowel cancer(Image: Getty)
Examining your toilet habits could potentially alert you to the symptoms of a deadly disease. Certain alterations in your poo could be indicative of bowel cancer.
While shifts in the colour and consistency of your stool are often benign, typically due to changes in diet, they could also suggest something more severe. Therefore, some specialists advise a quick inspection of your stool before flushing. The NHS in the UK states that blood in your poo, which may appear red or black, could be a symptom of bowel cancer. If this sign persists for three weeks, it’s advisable to consult a doctor.
However, it’s not just the colour that could raise an alarm – the shape of your poo might also indicate a health concern. Thin, narrow stools could be a symptom of several conditions, including bowel cancer, also referred to as colorectal cancer.
As per the Bristol Stool Chart, healthy faeces should resemble a sausage in shape, either smooth or with cracks on the surface. While an occasional narrow stool could simply suggest constipation, it could also imply chronic digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, and even cancer.
As reported by The Mirror, narrow stools can look like a ribbon or a pencil. In most cases, these can be a sign of constipation, which is characterised by fewer than three bowel movements a week or difficulty in passing stool. This could be attributed to lifestyle factors such as insufficient fibre intake, inadequate hydration, and lack of physical activity.
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Nevertheless, Fight Colorectal Cancer cautions that thin stools could signal obstructions such as tumours, resulting from bowel cancer. The charity states: “For the most part, narrow stools that occur infrequently are not a cause for concern. But if you experience ribbon-like stools for more than a week, seek medical attention.”
Healthcare professionals at the Mayo Clinic in the US endorse this advice. They explained: “Narrow stools that happen now and then probably are harmless.
“But in some cases, narrow stools – especially if pencil thin – may be a sign that the colon is narrowing or has a blockage. And that could be due to colon cancer. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) also may cause changes in the size of your stools.”
Other bowel cancer warning signs
Bowel cancer is occasionally referred to as a “silent killer” because it doesn’t invariably manifest symptoms during its initial phases. Nevertheless, the condition can also prompt further modifications to your bowel patterns.
The NHS recommends monitoring for: “Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you.”
It might also change how often you visit the toilet. The NHS suggests booking an urgent appointment with a doctor if your stools appear black or dark red, or if you’re experiencing bloody diarrhoea.
Further signs of bowel cancer include:
Frequently feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toiletAbdominal painA lump in your abdomenBloatingUnintentional weight lossFeeling extremely tired for no apparent reason
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s vital to seek advice from a GP.