Help? Could this be cancer?

[anonymous_K]

I trouble with my bowel lately i experienced thin poop for three weeks now. I was either constipated or having a diarrhea. I don't usually look at my poop but I was scared because it was thin like finger thin i googled it and it say it was a cancer. I ate greens yesterday night and my poop is watery this morning i tried to look at it closely it seems the green leaves i ate turns black. I'm not experiencing stomach cramps. Could this be cancer. I wad also scared to go to the hospital since Covid cases here in out place is high. Please give me an advise.

[Sanic_]

Hi, we’re in the same page .. that’s how I am as well .. and I’m so scared .. have you talked to a dr ?

[Jase111]

Hi. Can you tell me your age? To start, it is very difficult to self diagnose cancer with a symptom of just having thin stool. Especially the cause of thin stool can be due to so many things. For example if you are young or relatively young and you do not have bloody stool, it is likely that you have IBS and not colon cancer.

Of course if you have history of colon cancer in your family, you cannot rule this out but if you really think something is wrong, you can get colonoscopy done.

In my personal experience, I also went through the same symptom as you. I got scared too and asked in forums myself. But in the end it was just my mind playing games and after not thinking about it and eating fibre daily, my stool became normal.

So first, do not think about this too much. Try to eat lot of fibre and see if your symptoms improve. Also, there are research that shows that stool caliber alone is not a good predictor of colon cancer. Hope you feel better.

[Nicole_GCCA Partner]

Dear anonymous_K ,Thank you for posting in Colon Cancer Connected. I'm sorry that these symptoms are causing you anxiety.

As hard as it is, try to not let the anxiety get to you too much. (I know that it is a lot easier said than done!). Our GI systems are very sensitive to stress and anxiety and can make symptoms worse.

This site does not offer medical advice, but we are here to share our experience and offer our advice, but it should not replace speaking to your doctor. Again, when something seems "off" or you are experiencing bowel movements that are abnormal for you, it is important to be examined by a doctor. With COVID, this might be a virtual or telephone visit, but it is important that you reach out to your regular healthcare provider.

Before you speak to your doctor, be sure to have written down a list of all medications that you are currently taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements. Often, patients with GI issues will also keep a food journal to track food and beverage intake, bowel movements, any pain or bleeding, etc. This could be useful information for your doctor. Additionally, it could show you a pattern (for instance, possibly being lactose intolerant, if you experience diarrhea after eating dairy).

Many many people who post in our group are sure that they've got colon cancer, and thankfully, most of the time they do not. We do believe that if something is "off" it is very important to get it checked out. Sometimes that means changing Doctors. If you do not feel that your Doctor is taking your health concerns seriously, they may not be a good fit to be overseeing your medical care.

Please, do reach out to a medical professional. And if you need any encouragement to make that call, we're here for you and many of our caring members of this forum will help give you the boost you need to make that call!

~Nicole, GCCA Staff Member & Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.

Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.