Summary
- A change in bowel habits refers to any persistent difference in your usual stool pattern, including frequency, consistency, or a feeling of incomplete emptying.
- Short-term bowel changes are often linked to diet, stress, dehydration, or infection. However, symptoms lasting several weeks or appearing later in adulthood may indicate an underlying digestive condition.
- Warning signs such as blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue, anaemia, or a family history of colorectal cancer should always be checked early by a specialist.
- While conditions like IBS, haemorrhoids, IBD, and food intolerances can also cause similar symptoms, persistent bowel changes can sometimes be linked to more serious conditions, including colorectal cancer, and may require investigations such as a colonoscopy.
If you’ve noticed a change in your bowel habits and it just doesn’t feel like your normal routine, it’s natural to wonder if something is wrong.
Some changes are temporary and harmless, but when symptoms persist, they may indicate an underlying digestive condition that needs attention.
Keep reading to know when you should see a colorectal specialist in Singapore for further investigation.
What Counts as a Change in Bowel Habits?
A change in bowel habits simply means your usual pattern of passing stool feels different from before. This could include how often you go to the toilet, changes in stool appearance, or differences in how your body feels afterwards.
Changes in Stool Frequency or Routine
You might find yourself going to the toilet more often than usual, or less frequently than before. Even if the change feels mild, what matters is whether it’s new for you and if it continues over time.
Constipation, Diarrhoea, or Alternating Bowel Patterns
Some people experience recurring constipation, repeated diarrhoea, or a cycle where both alternate. These changes can be linked to diet or stress, but they can also be a sign of something more persistent.
Narrower Stools or a Feeling of Incomplete Emptying
If your stools look thinner than usual or you often feel like your bowel hasn’t fully emptied, that’s something worth paying attention to, especially if it keeps happening.
Can Temporary Bowel Changes Be Normal?
Yes, they can be. A short-term change in bowel habits is often related to diet changes, dehydration, travel, stress, or a mild stomach infection. In most cases, these things settle within a few days.
But if your bowel issues don’t get better or keep coming back, it’s worth looking into further.
When Should Persistent Bowel Changes Become a Concern?
Changes in bowel habits are more significant if they don’t have an obvious cause or start to affect your daily life.
Symptoms That Continue for Several Weeks
When bowel habit changes persist for several weeks, such as ongoing constipation or diarrhoea, it becomes less likely that the cause is short-term, such as a mild stomach infection, temporary dietary change, or stress-related gut upset.
Ongoing symptoms may suggest an underlying condition such as chronic bowel inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, or, in some cases, structural changes in the colon that need medical evaluation.
Changes That Begin Later in Adulthood
New bowel changes that appear in adulthood, particularly after midlife, should always be taken more seriously and properly evaluated.
These are symptoms that should never be ignored or dismissed, even if they come and go. While they do not always indicate a serious condition, they can sometimes be signs of underlying issues in your digestive tract that require proper medical evaluation.
Fatigue, Anaemia, or Family History of Colorectal Cancer
Persistent tiredness, iron-deficiency anaemia, or feeling generally low in energy can sometimes be linked to hidden blood loss or changes in the gut that are not immediately obvious.
In addition, if you have a family history of colorectal cancer, your risk profile may be higher. In these situations, it is important not to delay a check-up, as early assessment can help detect any issues sooner and guide appropriate management.
Experiencing persistent constipation, diarrhoea, or other concerning symptoms? Dr Bernard Lim, an experienced colorectal specialist based in Singapore, can help pinpoint the cause and guide you through the right treatment. Contact us today.
Could Persistent Constipation and Diarrhoea Be Linked to Colorectal Cancer?
Not all bowel habit changes are due to cancer, but persistent symptoms can sometimes be an early warning sign. That’s why it’s important not to self-diagnose or wait too long before getting checked.
Common Colorectal Cancer Symptoms
Ongoing changes in bowel habits
Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding
Abdominal discomfort or persistent cramps
Unexplained weight loss
Persistent fatigue or low energy
Treating Colorectal Cancer
If you do receive a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, there are treatment options available. Outcomes are often better when the condition is detected early.
Treatment for colorectal cancer may include:
- Minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic or robotic-assisted colorectal surgery): In selected cases, smaller incisions may be used to remove the affected section of the bowel, which can support shorter recovery times and less post-operative discomfort.
- Open surgery: May be recommended for complex cases where a traditional surgical approach is needed to safely remove the cancer.
- Endoscopic procedures (polyp or early lesion removal during colonoscopy): In very early cases, abnormal growths may be removed during a colonoscopy without the need for major surgery.
- Chemotherapy: May be used before or after surgery to target cancer cells, reduce recurrence risk, or manage late-stage disease.
- Radiotherapy: Often used in rectal cancer cases to shrink tumours or reduce the risk of recurrence, sometimes in combination with other treatments.
- Stoma formation: In some cases, a stoma may be required to divert bowel function and allow healing or restore safe bowel passage after surgery.
What Other Conditions Cause Changes in Bowel Habits?
Several non-cancerous conditions can cause very similar symptoms.
Condition | What It Is | Common Symptoms |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | A functional bowel disorder that affects how the gut moves and processes food, without visible structural damage | Bloating, abdominal discomfort, constipation, diarrhoea, or alternating bowel patterns that often come and go |
Haemorrhoids and Benign Colorectal Conditions | Swollen blood vessels or non-cancerous conditions affecting the rectum or anus | Rectal bleeding, discomfort during bowel movements, and sometimes changes in bowel habits |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) | Chronic inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis | Ongoing diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fatigue, and sometimes blood in stool |
Food Intolerances and Gut Sensitivities | Difficulty digesting certain foods such as dairy or gluten | Bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and changes in stool consistency or frequency after eating trigger foods |
When Is a Colonoscopy Recommended?
If your symptoms persist or there are any warning signs, your colorectal specialist may recommend a colonoscopy.
During this procedure, a thin, flexible camera will be gently inserted through the rectum so your doctor can directly examine the lining of your colon in detail. It helps your doctor identify the cause of symptoms such as bleeding, ongoing bowel changes, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss.
Your doctor may also take tissue samples (biopsies) or remove small polyps if needed.
What a Colonoscopy Helps Detect
A colonoscopy can help identify:
Inflammation in the colon or rectum: This may be seen in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, where the lining of the bowel becomes irritated, swollen, or damaged over time.
Polyps (small growths in the colon): These are usually benign but can develop into cancer over time if left untreated, which is why detection and removal during colonoscopy is important.
Sources of bleeding in the lower digestive tract: This includes bleeding from haemorrhoids, ulcers, inflamed tissue, or abnormal growths that may not always be visible externally
Colorectal cancer: A colonoscopy allows direct visualisation of the colon so any suspicious areas can be identified early and biopsied for confirmation.
Get a Professional Diagnosis From a Colorectal Specialist in Singapore
If your bowel habits have changed and you are unsure of the cause, you should not wait for it to resolve on its own. Early medical advice can provide reassurance if nothing serious is found or allow timely treatment.
You can discuss your symptoms and concerns with Dr Bernard Lim, Senior Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon. As an experienced colorectal specialist in Singapore, he can assess whether further tests are required and recommend an appropriate screening for you.
