• Tariq Ismail appears on Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies
• Invitation for Stoma patients to lunchtime information session
• Tariq Ismail features in Daily Mail about misdiagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Copy of Thank You letter from Bowel Disease Research Foundation
• The Birmingham Bowel Clinic is proud to support the Department of Health’s nine week national campaign starting on 30th January 2012.
• West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit releases bowel cancer figures for the local area
• The Priory Hospital's excellent patient satisfaction feedback results announced
• Birmingham Bowel Clinic coffee morning a great sucess
• Birmingham Bowel Clinic to continue to treat Police Healthcare patients
• Simon Radley wins customer care award for clinical activity
• HALO procedure for haemorrhoids discussed in hospital magazine
• Mr Tariq Ismail features in BMJ following research into erectile dysfunction following treatment for bowel cancer
• Birmingham Bowel Clinic proud to support "Charity Hurts 3- Boxing for bowel cancer" fundraising event
• BBC series "Don't Die Young" demonstrates Capsule Endoscopy investigation
• Bowel Clinic proud to support local youth group

Mr Tariq Ismail features in BMJ following research into erectile dysfunction following treatment for bowel cancer

Mr Tariq Ismail, in conjunction with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (UHB) and University of Birmingham, participated in a study which was released by the British Medical Journal on 19th October 2011, highlighting the issue of men suffering with bowel cancer requiring more information for erectile dysfunction after their cancer treatment.

The research subject, titled: "Men’s experiences of erectile dysfunction after treatment for colorectal cancer: qualitative interview study,"  highlighted how men who have been diagnosed with bowel cancer are highly likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction after their treatment, with the majority of men not receiving sufficient information the condition they left being faced with.  

Over 38,000 people every year in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer (1), a condition affecting more men than women (2). Around half of those diagnosed with bowel cancer will survive for more than five years after their treatment (3), and the study raises the issue that fortunately this survival figure will increase- hence the problem of erectile dysfunction due to become an increasingly common condition amongst male survivors. 

During the study the research team conducted thorough interviews with 28 men who had received bowel cancer treatment across the West Midlands. During their in-depth interviews the men described reductions in the quality of sexual intimacy with their partner, reduced sexual fantasy, poor perceptions of masculinity and general  social interactions with women, along with physical discomfort during sex. The men who were the most distressed were those who reported the lowest sexual functioning and highest sexual desire, with one man stating how he and his wife prior to bowel cancer enjoyed sexual activity three times a day- following the cancer they had attempted sexual intercourse just three times in a year. Sadly this man feared that his marriage would break down as a result of the sexual issues which had arisen after bowel cancer.  

Most of the 28 men who were involved in the study felt that had been uninformed and unprepared for this new problem with most of them not receiving any adequate, effective or affordable care for the condition. It also became apparent from the men that were interviewed that ageism exists amongst healthcare professionals with some men raising the issue how their doctor or stoma care nurse dismissing the problem saying that erectile dysfunction doesn't matter to older patients.

The study concludes that, unlike prostate cancer patients, bowel cancer patients are not prepared for erectile dysfunction and receive little information about the condition as a side-effect. The authors of the study concluded that “the wide diversity of this patient group calls for greater coordination of care and consistent strategies to tackle unmet needs.”

Co-author, Mr Tariq Ismail, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon from the University Hospital Trust, Birmingham and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Surgery at the University of Birmingham, commented: ‘Sexual problems after surgery for bowel cancer are common, inadequately discussed and untreated. Sexual dysfunction should be discussed with patients and efforts to prevent and treat it should be increased.’

To download a full version of this study please click here.

Source:
(1)  Cancer Research UK. Bowel (colorectal) cancer—UK incidence statistics. 2010. http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/bowel/incidence/.
(2)  Payne S. Not an equal opportunity disease—a sex and gender-based review of colorectal cancer in men and women: part I. J Mens Health Gend2007;4:131-9.
(3)  Cancer Research UK. Bowel cancer statistics—key facts. 2010. http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/bowel/index.htm?script=true.

Mr Tariq Ismail
31 October 2011