Narrow stools may look like a ribbon or a pencil. Most commonly, these can be a sign of constipation, which means having a bowel movement fewer than three times a week or having difficulty passing ...

consistent changes in stool shape — especially if they’re flat or ribbon-like — can be a sign of narrowing or obstruction in the colon, often linked to colorectal cancer. But that wasn’t ...

Oda's stool grew noticeably thinner and more pencil-like, which was one of the first warning signals. At first, she thought this was constipation. Though occasional thin stools may not be concerning, ...