Bowel Cancer Stool Pictures: What You Can (and Can’t) See

Seeing is believing, right?

Warning signs of bowel cancer can include changes in poo such as in colour, shape, or blood in the stool, which isn’t always visible.

These symptoms can also be caused by non-cancerous issues like haemorrhoids.

In many cases, bowel cancer can develop without obvious signs.

That means you can’t always detect bowel cancer by a quick glance into the toilet or by comparing your poo to stool charts or photos online.

The most reliable signs are often hidden to the naked eye.

Can I detect bowel cancer by comparing my stool with photos?

Most of the time, you can’t.

Bowel cancer can develop slowly over time, and often there’s no visible symptoms in the early stages of bowel cancer.

Some people never notice anything out of the ordinary and don’t experience noticeable symptoms like pain, fatigue, weight loss, or notice visible blood.

That means waiting until something looks wrong in the toilet bowl could mean catching the cancer too late.

How bowel cancer starts

Let’s break down how bowel cancer works.

Bowel cancer usually starts when cells lining the bowel begin to grow abnormally. These changes can lead to small growths called polyps. Most polyps are harmless, but some can slowly develop into bowel cancer over time.

Importantly, some polyps may leak tiny traces of blood.

These tiny traces of blood are often so small, they’re microscopic. You just see your plain ol’ regular stool!

This is why looking for these signs by comparing your stool with pictures online is an unreliable way to detect bowel cancer.

What’s the most reliable way to detect bowel cancer then?

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The Home Test Kit!

Otherwise known as the iFOBT (immunochemical Faecal Occult Blood Test), the home test kit is a reliable first-line screening test for bowel cancer.

The test can detect the tiny invisible traces of blood in your poo and other warning signs.

When a test detects blood, it means polyps are present, and those can be checked for cancer.

The test process requires you to collect samples from two separate stools for testing. It’s free, simple, and can be done at home!

If you do see changes in your stool, it might be a sign of bowel cancer, but you would still need to do a test to detect it.

Most importantly, it can catch cancer before it becomes a big deal. If blood is found, further testing (usually a colonoscopy) is recommended to find out what’s going on.

The good news is that the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program offers free bowel screening kits to all Australians aged 45-74!

Screening tests are available nationwide and easily accessible if you are eligible.

Routine screening saves LGBTQ+ lives

Research into bowel cancer screening among LGBTQ+ people in NSW found that:

Only a quarter of respondents believed they are at risk of bowel cancer.

Fact: the biggest risk factor for bowel cancer is age.

As we age, our risk of bowel cancer increases. Not the most pleasant thing to hear but it’s happening!

Diet, exercise, and whether we smoke and/or drink play a factor in bowel cancer risk as well.

Why ageing then? When we age, our bodies can experience more genetic mutations over time that could lead to cancerous growths in the bowel.

Between the ages of 45-74, screening should be done every 2 years because that timing strikes the right balance between catching bowel cancer early and avoiding unnecessary testing.

Screening saves lives. Over 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if found early!

You can:

Do the test if you’re eligible. Take the bowel screening test every 2 years from 45-74 even if you feel fine and don’t experience symptoms.
Visit request a bowel kit or scan the QR code below to request a kit if you misplaced your original kit:
Talk to your GP about screening options if you have concerns or a family history of bowel cancer.
Follow up any changes you see in your poo with your GP. Symptoms such as pain or discolouration shouldn’t go ignored!
Choose healthcare providers who affirm your identity and have experience with LGBTQ+ patients. Check out this list for LGBTQ+ affirming doctors around Australia.

Stool Myth = Busted!

Bowel cancer doesn’t always announce itself loudly. So, checking your stool in the toilet bowl or searching for ‘bowel cancer stool photos’ online aren’t reliable ways to detect bowel cancer!

That’s why screening matters. The bowel screening test is an evidence-based and reliable way to give you the best chance of detecting bowel cancer early. This allows you and your healthcare provider to act before any further issues.

When you screen, you practice early detection. Trust us, this will give you the peace of mind to go live your life with the freedom and knowledge of your health!

Screening is private, simple, and lifesaving. Check out this guide on how to get past the awkward part of doing the bowel test and collecting samples!