change in bowel habits and not sure what this is?

[Smithjw]

seeking advice. For the last at least 3 months my bowel habits have changed. My poop is almost always “sticky” and hard to flush. Difficult to wipe. Thin. Also, this residue is always in the toilet after a bowel moment and I’m not sure what it is. Kind of looks like blood but is brown? Like a mucous? I’m 35.

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi Smithjw,

Thank you for posting on Colon Cancer Connected. Yes, you have some signs going on that could be caused by many different things. You definitely need to get some tests done to narrow down the options and get some peace of mind. Posting here says you are looking for answers and that is great. Catching anything early is very beneficial.

You could get a FIT test which would look for blood in your stool and give you a definitive answers to it being blood or not. Contacting your doctor and discussing the signs you are having is very good as well. That would be a good starting point. If the FIT comes back positive, then there are other procedures to figure out where the blood is coming from.

Other things to think about is family history. Are there signs for you to be aware of and looking for? Any abdominal pain involved here? Making a list of things to discuss with your doctor will be very helpful as well.

We do wish you the very best in finding answers to your issue. And please let us know what you find out as that can be very helpful to others on this site as well.

Thank You,

~Tom, GCCA Survivor - 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.