Are dark stools a symptom of stage 4 stomach cancer or can it be a symptom during earlier stages too?

Stool color changes are not reliable in determining stomach cancer stages. They are highly dependent on the type and quantity of food eaten, many times dark stools are seen with bleeding.

"Dark" stool can arise from ingestion of certain foods but may also be associated with bleeding from the upper GI tract. Please contact your primary physician for an evaluation.