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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Diagnosed With Stomach Cancer, Had Black Vomit. On Palliative Chemotherapy. Is This Normal?

My brother has been diagnosed with stomach cancer (stage 4, metastasis) end of December last year and is currently undergoing his second cycle of palliative chemotherapy. He has been in near constant pain for the past 3 months and has yesterday started vomiting black vomit (for about 24 hrs). I've been told by some people that this is a sign that his death is imminent. Is this correct?
Mon, 6 May 2013
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General Surgeon 's  Response
Hi and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your query.
I am sorry about your brother and this serious diagnosis. Vomiting black vomit is a sign of upper gastrointestinal bleeding which can be more or less severe but in every case this isnt good sign. It can be bleeding which might be possible to treat with blood transfusions but not for long time.... Surgical or endoscopic treatment is probably impposible to perform. But hope for the best.Wish you good health.
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Oncologist, Radiation Dr. Subhas Pandit's  Response
Hello
Welcome to healthcaremagic;
Sorry to hear about your brother's condition. Stage 4 stomach is very dreaded disease with poor outcome. There are very good medicine like morphine which can releive him from pain.Although we may not be able to cure his disease,we can make him pain free,
Vomiting black vomit is symptom of bleeding inside gastro-intestinal tract. It is feature of advanced disease status and there is limited treatment option for his condition.

Regards
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Diagnosed With Stomach Cancer, Had Black Vomit. On Palliative Chemotherapy. Is This Normal?

Hi and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your query. I am sorry about your brother and this serious diagnosis. Vomiting black vomit is a sign of upper gastrointestinal bleeding which can be more or less severe but in every case this isnt good sign. It can be bleeding which might be possible to treat with blood transfusions but not for long time.... Surgical or endoscopic treatment is probably impposible to perform. But hope for the best.Wish you good health.