<human>: I am a 38 year old female...  I noticed around a year ago when I went #2, there was blood on the toilet paper... It happens from now and again and gets sore.  I looked in a mirror and there was an indentation with black skin beside it and the indention was bleeding.  Could it be cancer?  The ident and black skin hasnt gone away in a year.
<bot>: HI, thanks for using Chat Doctor Blood in the stool can be related to different possible causes such as: (1) straining in constipation (2) anal fissure (3) colonic cancer-may be associated with loss of appetite, weight loss, constipation, abdominal pain (4) polyps in the colon (5)hemorrhoids (6)diverticular disease- out pouching of the intestine, common as a result of aging, non cancerousThough blood in the stool may be due to benign, non-cancerous causes, it must be investigated. You need to consider visiting your doctor who will examine your abdomen, conduct a rectal examination and likely suggest investigations such as fecal sample to the lab and imaging. I hope this helps