Very good morning doctors. could occasional constipation and difficulty having a bowel movement ever be due to a more serious condition, such as bowel obstruction, anal cancer, bowel cancer?

Absolutely, the trend will be however towards worsening symptoms in time rather than occasional with growing masses. The threshold remains low for colonoscopy and many times a diagnostic colonoscopy is done.

Although it is not likely, there certainly is a possibility that those symptoms could be due to a colon mass or colon cancer. I would recommend a visit to see your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist. If you have not had colon cancer screening, you should get that done regardless of your symptoms. Don’t skip the follow up visit. Good luck.