Is black stool a sign of stomach cancer?

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on May 28, 2025
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Black stools might suggest stomach cancer, but most cases are not. Often, factors such as diet structure and medications can lead to transient black stools, which are physiological. For instance, consuming animal blood, foods containing pigments, and certain medications like blood tonics and bismuth drugs protecting the stomach lining can cause transient black stools. Once dietary adjustments are made or related medications are stopped, the stool color usually returns to normal. In pathological conditions, such as acute gastric mucosal lesions and bleeding from gastric or duodenal ulcers, black stools can also occur. Thus, the occurrence of black stools might suggest the possibility of stomach cancer, but in most cases, it likely is not.

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Can late-stage gastric cancer be treated?

Patients with late-stage gastric cancer generally may not have the opportunity for curative surgery, which is mainly suitable for early-stage gastric cancer patients. For late-stage gastric cancer patients, the treatment plan should be chosen based on the specific condition of the patient. If the patient's general condition is relatively good, chemotherapy can be an option. The type of chemotherapy, whether intravenous combination chemotherapy or oral drugs like tegafur capsules or capecitabine, which generally have milder reactions, depends on the patient's condition. Additionally, late-stage gastric cancer patients can try molecular targeted therapy, such as anti-angiogenesis drugs like apatinib, etc. Therefore, treatment options should be selected based on specific circumstances. The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.

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Is chemotherapy for gastric cancer torturous?

The first common side effect of chemotherapy drugs is gastrointestinal reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, constipation, or bloating, and other such gastrointestinal symptoms. The second is bone marrow suppression, such as decreases in white blood cells and platelets; a decrease in white blood cells can easily lead to infections, and low platelets can lead to a tendency to bleed. There are also liver and kidney damage, numbness of hands and feet in the peripheral nervous system, and clinical symptoms such as fingernail darkening, pigmentation, or hand-foot syndrome caused by fluorouracil. The severity of chemotherapy side effects varies greatly among patients and is related to each patient's general condition, exhibiting significant individual differences. Some patients may experience severe reactions to chemotherapy, while others may have milder reactions. However, during chemotherapy, we provide corresponding symptomatic treatments such as gastric protection, antiemetics, and cardioprotection, among others, to try to minimize the side effects caused by chemotherapy.

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What can stomach cancer patients eat?

For patients with gastric cancer, there are no specific dietary taboos, except for avoiding foods that are too spicy or greasy, such as fried foods and barbecued items that are difficult to digest. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid carbonated and very cold foods that may irritate the stomach. The dietary approach should focus on eating smaller, more frequent meals that are easy to digest and bland. However, it is also important to ensure a balanced diet that includes both meat and vegetables to ensure adequate nutrition for the patient.

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What can stomach cancer patients eat?

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Is gastric cancer contagious?

Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor occurring in the epithelial cells of the gastric mucosa. It is non-contagious. Currently, the incidence of gastric cancer is relatively high, primarily due to Helicobacter pylori infection, adverse environmental factors, and dietary irritants. Genetic factors also play a significant role, with 10% of gastric cancer patients having a family history. Those with a family history of gastric cancer have an incidence rate that is 2 to 3 times higher than the general population. Additionally, precancerous lesions can also induce gastric cancer, such as intestinal metaplasia, gastric polyps, residual gastritis, and gastric ulcers. Typical symptoms include indigestion, anemia, lack of appetite, aversion to food, and fatigue. Currently, gastroscopy combined with mucosal biopsy is the most reliable diagnostic method.