Hesitating to post this as I think it’s something maybe doesn’t get discussed often, and it’s pretty yucky - only I can’t find anything online.
My husband has terminal bowel cancer. With mets to lungs and lymph.
He has an ileostomy.
Today there have been three episodes of almost black, foul-smelling stuff from his rectum. Quite a lot of it. He isn’t in any pain from this. But is generally weak. The nurse I spoke to didn’t seem surprised or unduly worried.
Does anyone know anything/ can shed any light on what and why??
I've just seen that I can post an image - but probably better not to (although I do have photos!)
Hello. Thanks for asking. I hope I won’t be upsetting anyone in replying - obviously everyone’s cancer is different and just because this is what I know doesn’t mean it’s the same for everyone.
From what I understand, my husband’s smelly black gunk(!) is called melena. And is an evolution of the disease. He had a blood transfusion a couple of days ago as his hemoglobin was low - possibly as a result of this hemorrhage. And we have been told to expect more of the same. Whether he has more transfusions or not will be up to him to decide.
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