Useful contacts
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Family Physicians has two detailed articles on ‘Common Anorectal Conditions’ on their website. The articles are intended for doctors. They explain how doctors examine the anus, and discuss itching, pain, bleeding, lumps, constipation and incontinence of faeces. They were written in 2001, so some of the treatment sections could be out of date, but the basic descriptions of the conditions are still correct.
www.aafp.org/afp/20010615/2391.html
www.aafp.org/afp/20010701/77.html
American Gastroenterological Association
The American Gastroenterological Association is an organization for doctors who specialize in the gut. Look in the ‘Patient Center’ of the website for excellent information about various gut problems including piles and constipation.
www.gastro.org
Beating Bowel Cancer
Beating Bowel Cancer is a UK not-for-profit organization that provides information about all aspects of bowel cancer. Its lively website is well worth a look.
www.beatingbowelcancer.org
Bladder and Bowel Foundation
The Bladder and Bowel Foundation is a UK not-for-profit organization that provides information and support materials for all types of bladder and bowel problems. Its resources include a range of booklets and fact sheets, available online to registered users, and a free confidential helpline staffed by specialist continence nurses and physiotherapists during office hours Monday to Friday.
Helpline: 0845 345 0165.
www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK has a bowel cancer section on its website.
www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=2786
Core
Core is a UK not-for-profit organization that provides reliable information about all gut problems. (They are called Core because the digestive system is at the core of our body.) They supply a range of leaflets, which are available on the 'Patient Info' page of their website or by post (send a large sae). Write to: Core, Freepost, LON4268, London, NW1 0YT indicating which specific leaflet or factsheet you require.
Tel: 0207 486 0341 (this not a helpline and Core does not give personal medical advice).
http://www.corecharity.org.uk
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support has a web page explaining the home-testing kits for blood in the faeces.
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Testsscreening/Bowelscreening/TheFOBtest.aspx
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse is a US government organization. Its website has pages on bleeding in the digestive tract (gut), piles (haemorrhoids/hemorrhoids), constipation, leakage from the anus (faecal/fecal incontinence) and other gut problems. Write to: 2 Information Way, Bethseda, MD 20892-3570, USA.
www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/a-z.asp
NHS Choices (UK) - Anal fissure
NHS Choices, the UK National Health Service website, has pages explaining anal fissure - symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anal-fissure/Pages/Introduction.aspx
St Mark's Hospital, UK
St Mark's Hospital, UK, is a world-renowned hospital for gut problems. Their website has many excellent leaflets in the 'Patient Information' section. These include: Sphincter (anal) exercises for bowel control problems; Tips on controlling wind and smells; Your haemorrhoid operation; Banding of haemorrhoids (piles); Injecting of haemorrhoids (piles); Constipation; Anal fissure; Pruriti ani (anal itching).
www.stmarkshospital.org.uk/index.php?page=patient-information-leaflets
STOP Colon and Rectal Foundation
STOP Colon and Rectal Foundation is a US not-for-profit organization that provides information about screening and prevention of bowel cancer. Not all the information applies to all countries.
www.coloncancerprevention.org
UK NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme
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