Short Wave
<img src="https://healthylife7.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/short-wave_tile_npr-network-01_sq-c268cdb6be92867b01c6ef7e65aed8d605525779.jpg” alt=”SW”>
NPR
Short Wave
The red flags that may be hiding in your poop
August 7, 20263:00 AM ET
Berly McCoy
,

Regina G. Barber
,
Rebecca Ramirez
The red flags that may be hiding in your poop
Listen·12:3612:36
- Download
- Embed
<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5875414/nx-s1-mx-5875414-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
A change in your bowel habits could be an indicator of colon cancer.
Antonio Hugo Photo/hide caption
toggle caption
Antonio Hugo Photo/Getty Images
When’s the last time you looked at your poop? Dr. Trisha Pasricha says you should look every time because it could save your life. A change in bowel habits is the number one indicator someone might have colon cancer, a disease on the rise in people under 50 in the United States. Host Regina Barber gets into what’s driving this trend with Trisha; plus, some shapes and colors you should keep an eye out for (did you know silver poop is a thing sometimes?)
If you liked this episode, check out our first episode with Dr. Trisha:Are you pooping all wrong?
Interested in more science health news? Email us your question atshortwave@npr.org
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more atplus.npr.org.
Listen to Short Wave onSpotifyandApple Podcasts
This episode was produced by Berly McCoy. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. The audio engineer was Annlie Huang


