What It Means When You Don't Feel 'Empty' After Pooping And Why It Could Be A Serious Warning Sign

Like that old children's book says, "Everyone poops." Maybe your bathroom routine runs like clockwork a few times a day, or perhaps your body follows a more relaxed schedule. Either way, when nature calls and you finally go, there's usually a quick sense of relief. It's like you're flushing your troubles away.

But what if that sense of relief doesn't come? If you finish pooping but still feel like something's left behind, your body might be trying to tell you something. For people dealing with chronic constipation or diarrhea due to irritable bowel syndrome, that incomplete feeling may be somewhat familiar. For others, that lingering urge or lack of "emptiness" can sometimes point to something more serious, like colorectal cancer.

A tumor in the colon can physically block stool from passing, causing the sensation that you haven't fully gone. You might also experience a constant urge to poop, bloating, cramping, or even persistent fatigue. And if you notice blood in your stool, that's another red flag. While these symptoms can overlap with other digestive issues, you should also understand your risk factors and any changes in the appearance of your poop.

People with a personal history of high-risk colorectal polyps, inflammatory bowel conditions like colitis or Crohn's disease, or a family history of colorectal cancer face a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. Lifestyle habits matter, too. Factors like obesity, smoking, and heavy alcohol use can all increase your chances (here's how to lower your risk of colorectal cancer). Because the risk of colorectal cancer climbs with age, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends starting routine screenings at age 45.

But that doesn't mean younger adults are in the clear. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is increasingly showing up in people between the ages of 20 and 49. Yale Medicine says it's seeing more and more Millennials and Gen-Zers showing up in their offices, and it's urging college students to pay attention to warning signs of colorectal cancer.

Aside from incomplete emptying of your bowels, another sign to look for is a sudden change in the shape of your stool. According to CommonSpirit Health, colorectal cancer can cause your poop to become very thin, sometimes as narrow as a pencil. Unusually thin or paper-flat stools could signal a blockage in the colon or rectum. You should also keep an eye out for mucus or other unusual substances in your poop. And while blood in the stool can be a symptom of colorectal cancer, it's not always present.

Feeling that sense of incompletion after you poop doesn't necessarily mean you have colorectal cancer. It could also be a sign of constipation, which can be triggered by a variety of factors, such as disrupted communication between your brain and intestines, changes in your gut bacteria, or stress.

In some cases, that feeling of not fully emptying may be related to pelvic floor dysfunction. The pelvic floor muscles need to relax when you have a bowel movement, and if they remain tight, it can prevent complete evacuation. 

Blood in your stool isn't always a sign of cancer either. It might be caused by hemorrhoids, which are swollen blood vessels in the rectum that can bleed during straining.

Even though it might feel awkward to talk to your doctor about bowel issues, early detection of colorectal cancer can make a big difference in treatment outcomes. Screening often starts with a stool test that looks for blood or altered DNA. Some of these can be done at home. If something abnormal shows up, the next step is usually a colonoscopy to look for and remove any polyps or cancerous growths in the colon.