Colorectal surgeon: Check your stool before flushing

A colorectal surgeon urges people to examine their stool before flushing, citing a screening drive where nearly 80% of 352 participants had constipation and many lived with symptoms for months without seeking help. The surgeon emphasizes that persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, incomplete emptying, bloating, or unexplained weight loss warrant medical assessment, as dismissing them as piles or normal aging can delay diagnosis. He notes colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer among Indian men. The column encourages patients to overcome embarrassment and discuss symptoms with doctors, stressing that most anorectal conditions are treatable and that early attention to subtle changes is crucial, rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe.