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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Black Coloured Stools Be The Symptom Of Stomach Cancer?

I had an upper endoscopy last year, May of 2014, because I was having pain in my stomach. I was diagnosed with erosive gastritis and a fatty liver. My question is as follows, I have had very dark black stools the past week. This morning it was diarrhea, and extremely black. Then in the afternoon I had another bowel movement and it was hard, but again charcoal black. I m really concerned about this, because I have an uncle who died of stomach cancer and black stools were one of his symptoms. Should I see my gastroenterologist?
posted on Fri, 17 Apr 2015
Twitter Sun, 26 Apr 2015 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 27 Apr 2015 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Dear user,

I really understand your concern.

Based on your medical history for erosive gastritis, the black stools is due to active hemorrhage in upper gastro-intestinal tract, a condition called melena, where blood is destroyed by gastric acid and causes black stools.

Yes, you should see you gastroenterologist to evaluate your current status of erosive gastritis and also do a complete blood count to see for red blood cells and hemoglobin level, that may be very low due to presence of melena.


Good luck.

Dr. Elton Halili
Master of Science in General Medicine
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Could Black Coloured Stools Be The Symptom Of Stomach Cancer?

Dear user, I really understand your concern. Based on your medical history for erosive gastritis, the black stools is due to active hemorrhage in upper gastro-intestinal tract, a condition called melena, where blood is destroyed by gastric acid and causes black stools. Yes, you should see you gastroenterologist to evaluate your current status of erosive gastritis and also do a complete blood count to see for red blood cells and hemoglobin level, that may be very low due to presence of melena. Good luck. Dr. Elton Halili Master of Science in General Medicine