Health Awareness
Bladder and Bowel 2021
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What you need to know about ISC
Dr Angie Rantell, Lead Nurse, Urogynaecology King’s College Hospital demystifies intermittent self-catheterisation, a useful solution to support people who may need assistance to empty their bladder. What is intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC)? ISC involves using a catheter (a thin hollow tube) to drain the bladder, after which the catheter is removed. It is performed by a...
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Finding new methods for bowel cancer screening
Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) for bowel symptoms reduces need for colonoscopy. Incidence of bowel cancer in Europe is estimated to be increasing by about 4% every decade, largely due to a growing and aging population. Early diagnosis is key to cancer cure. Despite advances in improved diagnostic imaging, colonoscopy remains gold-standard (very specific in excluding bowel cancer and allows tissue sampling and removal of polyps). However, colonoscopy requires...
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Improving bladder cancer patient wellbeing
We are calling for the bladder cancer workforce to receive the necessary investment and support to provide the care that bladder cancer patients need and deserve. The options for bladder cancer treatment can involve some difficult decisions. Treatment options, such as bladder removal (radical cystectomy), have life-changing implications on lifestyle, sexual life, body image, mental health and...
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UTIs affect a large percentage of the population
Urinary tract infections (commonly referred to as UTIs) are the second most common kind of infection after chest infections, but what is a UTI exactly? The urinary tract system consists of the bladder, urethra (the tube which carries urine out of the body from the bladder), kidneys and ureters (tubes which carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder). A UTI usually occurs...
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The importance of good bowel health and the cost of constipation
A new report uncovers the significant cost of constipation and offers guidance on good bowel health. Constipation isn’t talked about much, but it needs to be. Up to one in seven adults and one in three children in the UK is affected by the condition, which is not only affecting lives, but also puts a financial strain on the NHS. The true cost of constipation In its Cost of Constipation report, The Bowel...
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Bowel incontinence doesn’t rule my life anymore
There are 6.5 million adults in the UK who suffer from some sort of bowel problem₁, with over half a million experiencing faecal incontinence that has a negative impact on their life. Having ‘tummy troubles’ can have a huge psychological impact on a person’s life as well as the obvious physiological symptoms and is a problem that we...
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Why patients must speak up about incontinence
Incontinence is one of the last health taboos in modern society. Embarrassment stops many people from accessing the NHS services that can help them. Incontinence is surprisingly common. It’s estimated that one in four of us will have a problem with bladder control at some time and one in 10 will have problems with bowel...
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Intermittent self-catheterisation takes anxiety out of toilet visits
A discreet catheter device has helped a young woman find a new lease of life after she awoke with mystery condition which has left her in a wheelchair. Almost seven years ago, Tabitha Fung awoke one morning unable to feel anything below her waist. While doctors are still not sure of the cause, Tabitha found...
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How a new therapy can help you restore your pelvic floor
Despite adverts telling us bladder leaks are normal – just a fact of life you can manage with pads – scientifically leaks can be fixed and not necessarily by having drastic surgery either. Urinary incontinence is a condition that affects millions of people across the globe, it can have a significant and detrimental impact on...
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Getting lives back on track by tackling the taboo of poo
Bowel health, in particular constipation and incontinence, represent taboo subjects in the UK, with many people failing to access NHS treatments that could transform their quality of life. At St Thomas’ Hospital, London, continence nurse practitioner Carlene Igbedioh regularly sees patients who have waited five to 10 years before seeking medical help. “Once they’ve experienced...
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The ultimate taboo? Why we need to talk about incontinence
Incontinence is as widespread as it is misunderstood. Embarrassment makes it difficult for people to talk about, but the right advice and support can make a big difference. With incontinence affecting as many people in the UK as hay fever, you would expect to hear more about it. Although most people will share their experiences...
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Why we need to act to address the bowel and bladder cancer emergency
The pandemic saw thousands of cancer patients miss their treatments due to the lockdown. Innovation and collaboration are key to helping clear the post-pandemic cancer backlog. Some estimates suggest over 40,000 fewer people received treatment for cancer from April 2020 compared to the previous year. Referrals via the two-week wait urgent pathway decreased 84%. Whilst...
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Bladder problems: When is it time to see your GP?
If you have been struggling with bladder problems throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, don’t wait any longer. Now is the time to see your GP. Throughout the global pandemic, many people have kept their worrying urological symptoms to themselves. The changes to healthcare provision, such as virtual clinics, may also have made it seem more difficult...
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Helping women feel free from worry of stress incontinence
In the UK alone, over 3 million women experience stress incontinence (aka little leaks). It affects everyone differently, but no matter your experience, it’s never easy. We want to empower more women to live life without worry. Stress incontinence happens when the pelvic floor muscles are weakened or damaged through pregnancy, obesity, or simply as...
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Bowel cancer services face their toughest challenge
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on bowel cancer services, with nearly 100,000 people in England alone waiting for crucial diagnosis tests. Over 42,000 people are diagnosed each year with bowel cancer. Yet, sadly around 16,500 people die from the disease each year, making it the second biggest cancer killer. But this shouldn’t...
