My dad (80) was rushed to hospital by his GP three weeks ago due to having very black stool. He stayed in hospital a week, they did an endoscopy (result clear) and found he was anemic so he was on a drip for this. Whilst in hospital, the black stool stopped and they returned to brown.

He was discharged after his iron and white blood cells returned to normal, but was told he would be called back in for colonoscopy.

He has had normal brown stools since then too.

the colonoscopy was today, and when he was in there over double the time they told us we started to suspect bad news. We then got a call to come sit with him to get the results. In the little room with comfortable chairs. Very scary place!

the doctor told us he had only managed to get the camera up to the first "bend" but there was a very large growth blocking the bowel. It was very painful for dad having the scan at this point too. They flipped him in many different positions to try and get the camera passed it but couldn't. He said the growth was too large, and rock solid so had to stop the scan there.

He has taken some biopsy's but told us he was absolutely certain it was cancer. Heartbreaking. Sitting in the room being told those words I am very lucky to have never experienced before, and oh my goodness what a shock.

he is due in for a CT scan as they want to know what is behind the growth, further up the bowel, and if there is spread anywhere else.

Does the fact the growth (tumour?) is almost completely blocking his bowel mean it is a higher stage and likely spread? Or does the size of the growth not mean anything? It's not completely blocked, he can pass stool but with some effort.but blocked enough the colonoscopy camera could not get through!

the bleeding has also stopped? They told us originally the black, rather than red, meant it was unlikely to be in the bowel so today was rather a shock!

thank you if you have read this far, we are in such a state of shock, we all seem to be taking it in turns to cry, then be strong, the cry, etc etc.

in summary my questions:

1. Is the physical size of tumour indiciative of stage of cancer?

2. Is the fact the stool bleeding stopped a good sign?

3. Why would it be black and not red if it's from the bowel?