I'm a 25-year-old male and a bit overweight. Lately, I've noticed my stool has been narrower, sometimes even pencil-thin. There's no blood, fever, or stomach pain, but when I looked it up online, I came across something about colon cancer. Now I'm really freaked out. Can you give me some advice on what might be going on?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Dhankecha Dineshbhai

General Practitioner

MBBS
6+ Yrs

Consult Now

Less likely to be related to colon cancer. Narrow or pencil-thin stool can sometimes be caused by benign conditions such as changes in diet, dehydration, or a lack of fiber. However, it is important to rule out any serious underlying issues. I recommend you try increasing your fiber intake and staying hydrated. You can also consider taking a stool softener like Colace (docusate sodium) to help with stool consistency. If the issue persists or if you develop any concerning symptoms, please consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation

Dr. Dhankecha Suggests...

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Answered 04/07/2025

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My wife Rita Datta is 58 and from Kolkata. She's been dealing with indigestion and loss of appetite, which has led to a lot of weight loss. A gastroenterologist at Peerless Hospital suggested an USG, and the report showed a large mass pushing her left kidney and spleen. They recommended a CT scan, which we did, and the gastrosurgeon advised immediate surgery. We've attached all the reports could you take a look and let us know what you think? We're really worried and not sure what the next steps should be

I can understand your concern. You haven't attached any reports as such with this question here. Also, why did you change doctors? And if immediate surgery is required, then i think you should get the surgery done. Consult a gastroenterologist in person for further evaluation and management

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15-30min before meals .kindly corelate with your doctor,thankyou.

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The doctor recommended I get an operation but I'm really hesitant about endoscopy surgery. I'm also worried about taking time off work since getting leave is tough. Are there any other options I could consider instead of surgery?

Patient is advised for the gastroenterologist opinion for further treatment.

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