For the last two days, I have had diarrhea and blood on the toilet paper and in the toilet. The blood is both bright red and dark red in color. The color of my loose stool varies in color from dark almost black to a light brown. Upon inspection of my rectum, it is dark, dark red (almost purple) and it appears as though there are large pockets of tissue that are protruding or trying to. It is tender and warm. I had hemorrhoids after the birth of my son 22 years ago, but this seems quite different and came on suddenly. What do you think it might be and what can you suggest? Should I go to my G.P. immediately or wait? Cancer runs in my family - however rectal cancer doesn t. My father passed away from Mantel Cell Lymphoma.