Bowel and Anus problems

Bowel or Colorectal Cancer Information about bowel cancer and the new keyhole operations available for selected patients. Bowel cancer is common, especially in the Western World.  It is the third most common cancer in the UK.  It is also called colon cancer [...]

Anal Cancer Fortunately anal cancer is rare but it can give the exactly same symptoms as piles. Anal cancer is rare, much less common than bowel cancer.  The symptoms of anal cancer can be exactly the same as haemorrhoids, often giving bleeding [...]

Diverticular Disease This common benign condition can cause abdominal pain, change in bowel habit and bleeding out of the anus. Diverticular disease is a very common condition in mature people especially in the Western World.  It is thought that people develop diverticular [...]

Haemorrhoids or Piles Common bulges at the anus that can irritate and bleed. The first and most important thing to say about haemorrhoids is that you should make sure that a qualified doctor has confirmed that this is the correct diagnosis.  This [...]

Anal Fissure Patients often have an anal fissure rather than haemorrhoids. An anal fissure is a tear in the anal canal.  It may arise after passing a particularly hard or large bowel motion or after anal trauma.  It gives symptoms of bleeding [...]

Perianal Abscess Infections at the anus are common and can form abscesses. The anus has numerous glands that are constantly being infected.  Normally the infection discharges inside the anus and goes unnoticed.  Rarely these infections instead discharge in to the fat of [...]

Anal Fistula Sometimes anal infection can lead to a fistula. Sometimes perianal abscesses do not heal properly and leave an abnormal track running from the inside of the anus or rectum to the nearby skin; this is called a fistula.  Anal fistulas [...]

Anal Warts Some anal lumps are contagious. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is infective and can be transmitted from person to person by sexual contact.  Other people at risk of getting infected are people with a weakened immune system.  Warty growths can [...]

Anal polyps and Skin Tags Many patients become concerned that they do not have a neat flat anus. It is very common to develop little benign growths at the anus called anal polyps or skin tags. Firstly it is important to check [...]

Pilonidal Sinus Disease Pilonidal sinus disease is a condition where hairs can grow abnormally in the natal cleft or the valley between the buttocks. Small pits can form which can get recurrently infected causing pain and discomfort. The condition is most common [...]

Prolapse Prolapse occurs when internal tissues protrude through the anus. Rectal or anal prolapse is often so embarrassing that many suffering patients unfortunately do not seek help from a doctor.  The condition mainly occurs in people who strain very hard to evacuate [...]

Pelvic Floor Exercises These useful and inobtrusive exercises often help with many anal and rectal conditions such as prolapse and incontinence. Anal incontinence and prolapse can sometimes arise because of weak supporting pelvic floor muscles.  Sometimes these muscles are damaged during vaginal [...]

Anal Hygeine If you thought a bowel surgeon spent their time seeing the dirtiest people in the community then you should think again! Over cleaning the Anus leads to anal irritation and disease Many people would think that a bowel and anus [...]

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) This describes a condition where the inner lining of the bowel can become inflamed for reasons that we do not completely understand. IBD is often subdivided in to Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Indeterminate Colitis. Most patients require [...]

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) This is a very common condition where patients can suffer intermittent abdominal pains, bloating and change in bowel habit. It is a benign and self-limiting condition but it is important that other more serious bowel conditions have been [...]