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What Causes Light Brown Stool?

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Posted on Mon, 5 Jan 2015
Question: Recently I have been getting a lighter brown poo than usual but there are also yellow stains on paper after I wipe. I recently had a very normal endoscopy. I am worried I may have pancreatic cancer or liver disease. Should I be worried?
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (46 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Get the blood tests and Ultrasonography of the 'whole' abdomen

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your query and history.

I would like to tell one good fact that a worry about a particular problem always helps for the awareness, investigations in this regard and getting a a report that helps in diagnosis or ruling out a particular problem you can think about.

Your worry about pancreatic cancer or a liver disease may not be true but once there, we have to rule it out.

The poo on such a disease is white or clay coloured.
The one you are getting is lighter brown and the yellow stain on wiping can be taken as normal and depends upon many many factors including the good, beverages you have consumed, the normal-bacterial load and so on.

Was it upper GI Endoscopy and / or Colonoscopy that was normal?

It is good that you have consulted a Doctor, please follow her instructions to undergo the blood tests and ultrasonography- get it done for the whole abdomen- not only middle one.
If there are some positive findings then you can always go for further evaluation.

I do not think of any worry as per your history, please relaxe and give me a feedback about your reports / any other symptoms you have.

I hope this answer helps you to get a clear idea.
Please feel free to ask for more or if you think there is some gap of communication.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (8 hours later)
Thank you for your response. I had an upper GI Endoscopy and Colonoscopy at the same time and both were normal other than having evidence of diverticular pouches in my bowel.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please get the investigations done.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.

Upper GI Endoscopy can show some changes like indentations, irregularity if there is Pancreatic or liver cancer. It was normal.
Lower GI is normal.
Diverticular pouches if not inflamed cause no symptoms.

Get the investigations done as advised by your Doctor. They may be normal and would relax your tensions.

Have a great day.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19777 Questions

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What Causes Light Brown Stool?

Brief Answer: Get the blood tests and Ultrasonography of the 'whole' abdomen Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your query and history. I would like to tell one good fact that a worry about a particular problem always helps for the awareness, investigations in this regard and getting a a report that helps in diagnosis or ruling out a particular problem you can think about. Your worry about pancreatic cancer or a liver disease may not be true but once there, we have to rule it out. The poo on such a disease is white or clay coloured. The one you are getting is lighter brown and the yellow stain on wiping can be taken as normal and depends upon many many factors including the good, beverages you have consumed, the normal-bacterial load and so on. Was it upper GI Endoscopy and / or Colonoscopy that was normal? It is good that you have consulted a Doctor, please follow her instructions to undergo the blood tests and ultrasonography- get it done for the whole abdomen- not only middle one. If there are some positive findings then you can always go for further evaluation. I do not think of any worry as per your history, please relaxe and give me a feedback about your reports / any other symptoms you have. I hope this answer helps you to get a clear idea. Please feel free to ask for more or if you think there is some gap of communication.