Diarrhoea

Lack of control as to when you open your bowels is called bowel (or faecal) incontinence.

Your bowels are made up of two sections - the small and the large bowel (or colon). If cells begin to develop and multiply abnormally in your bowel they can become cancerous.

A blockage in any part of your bowel can prevent digested food or liquid from passing through your system.

Coeliac disease is your body’s reaction to gluten. If you have coeliac disease your immune system reacts to wheat, barley or rye by attacking the lining of your intestine. Some patients also react to oats.

Your bowels are made up of two sections – the small and the large bowel (or colon). If cells begin to develop and multiply abnormally in your bowel they can become cancerous.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammation of the bowel (gut). The disease most often affects the end part of the small bowel, however, it can affect any part of the bowel.

Diverticulitis, and diverticular disease, occur when one or more pockets of diverticula in your bowel wall becomes infected or inflamed.

Your endocrine system is made up of all the glands in your body that produce hormones.

The gallbladder is an organ that stores bile; a bitter, yellow fluid produced by your liver. Bile is released by your gallbladder into the small intestine when you eat and helps to break down fats.

Gastrointestinal cancers, usually referred to as GI cancers, affect the majority of the digestive system, or the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach, biliary system, bowel pancreas, and liver.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can affect the liver. Hepatitis B is not very common in the UK, with less than 2 in every 100 of individuals attending for screening testing positive in the first quarter of 2012. Hepatitis B is more common in the developing world.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can affect the liver.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system making the body more prone to illness.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the term used to describe diseases that cause inflammation in your gastrointestinal (digestive) tract.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common disorder of your gastrointestinal (digestive) tract.

Your liver is one of the largest organs in your body. It acts to process and remove toxins from drugs and substances that may harm your body. Your liver makes blood clotting factors, proteins, and enzymes, helps maintain hormone balances, and stores vitamins and minerals. Bile is transported through ducts directly or via the gall bladder to the small intestine to help you digest fats.

Pelvic oncology involves the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the organs in the lower part of your body.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a long term condition that slowly damages the tubes that carry bile to your intestines. Instead of flowing freely, bile builds up in your liver causing cell damage, scarring and inflammation.

Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. It usually begins in your rectum (back passage) but can also affect your colon (large instestine).