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Colon Cancer/how can you tell if its blood in the stool?

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Expert: - 10/27/2004


Question
hello Doctor,this is kind of unpleasent but i was wondering what does blood in the stool look like? i mean how can i tell if its blood or just unbroken down food like tomatoes or something thank you for your help!  

Answer
Red blood in your stools looks like any blood and certainly not like tomatoes. If it is red it likely comes from the bowel. If your stools look black and tar like it probably comes from the stomach or above it. But it is very easy with a simple lab. test to check if blood is there. It should be done whenever it is suspected to maybe be there!

Colon Cancer

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience with regards to this cancer.

Experience

I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

I also answer questions in these categories: Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Breast Cancer.

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I'm a medical doctor and a specialist in medical oncology & radiation therapy.

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