Bleeding from any location along the gastrointestinal tract should be evaluated by your physician. Causes can range from tiny fissures (tears) and hemorrhoids, to the more serious peptic ulcers, colon polyps and cancer.
Blood in the stool does not necessarily appear bright red. If the source of the bleeding is in the upper portion of the tract, the stool color may appear very dark – even black.
If you are under 50, it is dangerous to assume that you can not have colorectal cancer. The incidence of diagnosis of colorectal cancers in people under 50 has been on the rise in the last decade. Never ignore blood in your stool.