Narrow stools can be caused by treatable, usually temporary causes such as constipation or dietary changes, or they can point to underlying medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

If the stool stays narrow or continues to get narrower, you should contact a healthcare provider. Very thin stool might be a sign of colorectal cancer, diverticular disease, or anal stenosis. Read ...

Narrow stool could be a sign of another, rare kind of cancer: anal cancer. It’s a cancer that starts in your anus, or the outer part of your rectum where poop comes out.

Constipation accompanied by concerning symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, blood in stool, or narrow pencil-thin stools requires prompt medical evaluation to rule out serious ...

Narrow stool can be a red flag. Doctors will sometimes see patients whose “stools are much thinner, or they’re pencil in thickness and size, which is a description that some patients with ...

Dr. Waqqas Tai said pencil-thin stools, rectal bleeding, anemia (particularly men), severe constipation or diarrhea and/or unexplained weight loss, fevers and night sweats may indicate colon cancer.

Pencil-thin stools may or may not indicate colorectal cancer. If not accompanied by other usual signs of colon cancer, it may also be an indication of constipation, or IBS. "The misconception that ...

Other colorectal cancer signs and symptoms include persistent changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, narrow stools, or still feeling that you need to have a bowel movement ...