Are ulcers a side-effect of treatment?

mp327 said:

Ouch

I don't know the answer to your question.  However, it seems entirely possible to me that there could be a connection between our type of treatment and an ulcer. 

I have had multiple episodes of intestinal blockage in my small intestine since treatment 6 years ago, one of those episodes severe enough to land me in the hospital.  I always experience vomiting when I have an episode, my most recent being a couple of months ago.  Something very different happened that time--my emesis was black and matched the description of "coffee grounds," which is commonly seen when emesis contains blood.  My immediate thought was stomach bleeding, which could indicate a possible ulcer.  If it happens again, I will be seeing a gastro who will most likely scope me.  While I do have some big strssors in my life right now, I highly suspect that if I do have an ulcer, radiation treatment would be a contributing cause.  Perhaps I should be concerned about any other causes, such as stomach cancer.  However, I have no other symptoms and have had 3 scans, including 1 PET, since the beginning of June to monitor the vague area on my liver, which is believed to be benign but bears watching.

I hope you get some answers! 

Thank you, mp327. Due to the rawness of my GI tract during treatment and afterward, all the IV antibiotics I had, and the disruption of my friendly bacteria, ulcers don't seem far-fetched. (Of course, I reactively think CANCER!!!)

As for you: Coffee grounds generally refers to vomitous and can indeed signal bleeding. Tarry-looking refers to stools and likewise can indicate bleeding. Bleeding can also be red; it all depends on the location of the lesion within the GI tract. Bleeding episodes are very serious, especially when accompanied by pain, but lack of pain doesn't make it un-serious.

Caveat 1. Unfortunately, there can be bleeding in your vomitous, stool, and urine that isn't visible to the naked eye. This is the "occult blood" of which you've probably heard and can be tested for chemically. Still serious!

Caveat 2. If an intestinal blockage is extremely severe, and highly critically serious, one can vomit fecal matter that backs up, but it will smell like that.

Caveat 3. Some foods and meds can mimic that coffee ground/tarry looking appearance: iron, Pepto Bismol, beets, and supposedly dark wines and beers.

The upshot is, don't put the doctor off. It's better to find nothing than to quietly hemorrhage at home.

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/bleeding-digestive-tract?page=2

All the best.

mp327 said:

Ouch

Thanks for your concern.  I appreciate all of the info very much.

I don't for sure that I have an ulcer (vs, say CANCER!!! .^_^. ), but the Zantac seems to have the situation under control. Maybe that will be enough to let it heal.