Disease information for stoma patients

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon but not the small intestine.

UC is a disease that is characterised by ulcers and open sores in the large intestine. The main symptom of UC is diarrhoea mixed with blood. UC is an intermittent disease with periods where symptoms may present more severely and periods when there are no symptoms at all.  At times these symptoms can go on their own, however, more often than not, the disease requires some form of treatment.

Crohn's Disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal system from mouth to anus.

The degree of symptoms of Crohn's disease can vary between affected individuals. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhoea (which may be bloody) or constipation, weight loss, skin rashes, arthritis, and inflammation of the eyes. The cause of Crohn's Disease is unknown, however it is believed to be an autoimmune disease that is genetically linked. Unlike Ulcerative Colitis, there is no medical or surgical cure for the disease.

Familial Polyposis Coli (FPC) is a hereditary condition where large numbers (100-1000) of pre-malignant polyps develop in the large bowel from puberty and onwards. Malignant changes will occur if left untreated. Treatment will include surgical removal of the colon and rectum.

The symptoms of FPC include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and desmoid tumors inside the abdomen that may lead to obstruction of the intestine. FPC is a genetic disorder which means the disease can be passed down from parent to child.

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is a hereditary condition where large numbers (100-1000) of pre-malignant polyps develop in the large bowel from puberty and onwards. Malignant changes may occur if left untreated. Treatment can include surgical removal of the colon and rectum.

Peristalsis is the process of pushing food along the digestive tract. During peristalsis, nerves signal the muscles on the outside of the intestine to compress the food in a wave-like motion so that it is actively propelled through the digestive system. These nerves are called ganglion cells. People with Hirchsprung's Disease are missing these cells in one or several parts of the large intestine, the entire large colon and/or parts of the small intestine.

For a person who has this condition, peristalsis pushes the stool along the intestine until it reaches the section without the ganglion cells. At that point, the stool stops moving and more stool backs up behind it.

Symptoms include complete chronic constipation, bowel obstruction, infection of the colon and bursting of the colon.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. In almost all cases, the disease is entirely treatable if caught early by colonoscopy. There is no single cause for colon cancer. Factors that increase the risk of colon cancer are colorectal polyps, cancer elsewhere in the body, a family history of colon cancer, and ulcerative cancer. Patients with a history of breast cancer have a slightly increased risk of developing colon cancer. With proper screening, colon cancer should be detected before the development of symptoms, when it is most curable.

There are many different factors that increase a person's chance of getting colorectal cancer. These include:

• Genetics - those with a family history of colorectal cancer are at a greater risk than those that don't.
• Age - most colorectal cancer patients are above the age of 50.
• Personal history - people, who in the past have suffered from colorectal cancer or have had colorectal polyps are still at a higher risk.
• Diet - poor diet and low intake of vegetables has been linked with an increased chance of getting colorectal cancer.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease - those who suffer from either Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease are a greater risk of getting colorectal cancer.
• Obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking - lifestyle choices have been linked to colorectal cancer.
• Alcohol consumption - a large consumption of alcohol can increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
• Type 2 Diabetes - there has been a link with people who have Type 2 Diabetes.