PASRICHA: Colonoscopies save lives because they prevent cancers, not because they detect cancers. We catch these polyps, which are these growths that are not yet cancer, but, you know, 5% to 10% of them will go on to become cancer if we don't remove them.
BARBER: For folks who haven't gotten their colonoscopy, Trisha says one of the biggest indicators that you need to see a doctor is a change in the color, shape, or frequency of your bowel movements.
PASRICHA: I really do think that this deep stigma we have about talking about pooping and talking about our bowels is tied to these cases, in some ways, because about one in three people will avoid talking to their doctor about their bowel habits because they're so embarrassed by them. And when it comes to early onset colorectal cancer, one of the biggest problems is that we're catching these cases late.
BARBER: So today on the show, why paying attention to your poop could prevent colon cancer. Plus, life hacks to keep you healthy and stinky free. I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Short Wave, the science podcast from NPR.
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BARBER: All right. Dr. Trisha, we're talking a lot about the fact that our poops can change. And those changes are worth noting to your doctor. So let's give people some foundation on how their poops can look. Like, there's this scale called the Bristol scale. And it's, like, basically ranking your poop, right?
PASRICHA: Yeah. So this is a nice, easy way to look at what your stool looks like, look at that shape and that consistency. And so the scale is from 1 to 7, with 4 being right in the middle. It's that, like, perfect, smooth, snake-like stool that people dream of. And then above that, you have types 1, 2, and 3. And 1, on the extreme end of that spectrum, is like these hard little rabbit pebbles. And if you're seeing that, it probably means that poop has been in your colon for the longest. And as you make your way down that scale, from 2 to 3, it starts to become a little bit more formed, more bunched together. When you hit 4, it's this, like, smooth sausage. And then 5 and 6, it starts to get fluffier and fluffier. And by the time you hit the end of the scale, which is a type 7, it's just water. Most people actually do live in a-- in America, live in a type 3 or 4 stage, which is like, smooth sausage or maybe, like, a little-- couple little cracks in that sausage.
