‘Pencil poos’ and 9 other signs of bowel cancer – as Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek shares devastating diagnosis

SYMPTOMS of bowel cancer can be both subtle or embarrassing to discuss with a GP, as they can affect your bowel habits.

But after Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek told how he’s been diagnosed with the disease, we reveal the signs of bowel cancer you shouldn’t delay in getting checked.

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The 47-year-old actor – best known for playing Dawson Leery in the iconic 90s teen drama alongside Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams – shared the devastating news in a statement to People Magazine.

He said: “I have colorectal cancer [as bowel cancer is also referred to].

“I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.

“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”

In a separate post to his Instagram, James added: “Each year, approximately two billion people around the world receive this diagnosis.

“And I’m one of them.”

The actor shared that he planned to “raise awareness” and share more about his diagnosis when he felt ready.

In the UK, bowel cancer is now the third most common cancer, with 41,596 Brits diagnosed in 2021.

Grim projections from Cancer Research UK also warned that 5,000 more Brits will get bowel cancer every year by 2040.

The bowel makes up a part of the digestive system. It’s split into the small and large bowel and includes the colon, rectum and anus.

Bowel cancer can often manifest itself in your bowel habits, changing the consistency of your poo and how often you need to go to the loo.

Cancer experts have warned passing “pencil poos” could be a sign you’re suffering from the cancer.

Dr Michael Cecchini, of Yale University, said arrow stools are a rare but “highly concerning” symptom of the deadly disease.

He said people with bowel cancer sometimes come into clinics saying they’ve noticed a change to their normal toilet routine.

Dr Cecchini told HuffPost: “Stools are much thinner, or they’re pencil in thickness and size, which is a description that some patients with colorectal cancer will have.

“When it exists, it is highly concerning. It’s just not one of the more common symptoms of the disease.”

Almost 44,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.

However, nine in 10 patients survives it if diagnosed at the earliest stage, according to Bowel Cancer UK.

The Sun’s No Time 2 Lose campaign, spearheaded by Dame Deborah James, has called for earlier testing and treatments to improve survival rates in Britain.

People over the age of 50 have a higher risk of developing bowel cancer but experts have warned of rising rates in younger people.

Cleveland Clinic researchers recently found evidence that diet is the key driver of the disease in those under the age of 60.

Red and processed meat appears to be most damaging for bowel cancer risk, according to the study.

Red flag symptoms of bowel cancer

Other symptoms can include changes to your poo, such as it becoming softer or suffering diarrhoea or constipation that is unusual to you.

Needing to poo more or less than usual, having blood in your poo, bleeding from your bottom and needing to more often, even after just going, are also signs.

Tummy pain, bloating, losing weight accidentally and feeling very tired for no reason are other symptoms.

Narrow poos may be a sign of the disease – however, it does not necessarily mean that having a narrow poo means you have bowel cancer.

A “healthy” looking poo is sausage shaped, experts say.

If you are concerned about changes to your bowel habits, you should see a doctor.

Dr Cecchini said: “It’s important to catch cancer early through screening or alerting to some of these symptoms so that we diagnose cancer at an earlier stage, where it’s more treatable and hopefully curable.”

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Other types of poos

According to the Bristol Stool Scale, your number two will fit into one of several categories.

Sausage-like poos that are soft and easy to pass are what experts call “the gold standard of poop”.

This is because it indicates that all is going smoothly with your digestion and that you’re eating the right amount of fibre.

Other takes on what stools can represent have been made, including that by Healthline comparing constipation to marbles, and diarrhoea to Jackson Pollock art.

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Snake-shaped poops that are softer than sausage-shaped ones and easier to pass are also considered normal.

Caterpillar-like poos or marbles suggest you are constipated and need more fibre.

Amboeas, on the other hand, are small and easy to pass but still signal a lack of fibre.

These poos are different to diarrhoea, which you can’t really control.

According to the NHS, most cases of diarrhoea should clear up without treatment, especially if it more closely resembles the soft serve on the chart, which suggests you’re suffering from a mild case of the runs.

Crohn’s disease is a bowel condition that can cause inflammation anywhere in the digestive tract, the NHS says, with diarrhoea a key symptom.

Over 500,000 people in the UK have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the two main forms of which are Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

It’s a good idea to stay hydrated and to choose foods that are easy to digest.

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