“I have a nodule in my thyroid gland. What should I do?” This is a question that I keep getting asked. At the end of the day what we should be asking is “Is this a benign (harmless) lump / nodule or is it thyroid cancer (bad)?” To try and answer this we need to … Read more
What Is The Gallbladder? Your gall bladder is an organ that sits under your liver on the upper right part of your abdomen. It stores and concentrates bile from the liver. While the gallbladder contains bile, it does not actually make bile – that is done by the liver. Bile is necessary for the absorption … Read more
What Is It? Diverticular disease is a condition where the large bowel wall develops small pouches. The bowel wall is like a muscular tube with a thin inside lining called the mucosa. The muscle in the wall contracts to squeeze and move the contents along. In diverticular disease, the muscle wall develops small holes, like … Read more
Thyroid Gland Problems The thyroid gland sits in the front of the neck, shaped like a butterfly, astride the windpipe (trachea). The thyroid’s job is to make thyroid hormone. This hormone controls the metabolic rate of every cell in our body, that is, it controls how fast we burn up energy. Thyroid problems can … Read more
Rectal Bleeding… Beware That Which Is Concealed! Passing blood in the stools is a common problem. For some patients, the sight of blood in the toilet bowl is alarming but others simply blame it on piles and brush it off. Rectal bleeding is always significant and requires further investigation and assessment by a specialist. Why? Well, though … Read more
What Are Polyps? Polyps are growths in the bowel. They can have a stalk, like a cauliflower, or be flat like moss. Polyps can cause bleeding or mucus in the stools, and on rare occasions it can cause bowel obstruction. There are 2 types of polyps: malignant as well as benign polyps. However, evidence suggests that polyps … Read more
What Is Colorectal Cancer? Colorectal cancer is cancer of the large bowel. In Malaysia, it is one of the top 3 most common cancers for men and women. Like all cancers, it is dangerous because it can spread to involve other organs in other parts of the body. Once the cancer has spread, it may not be … Read more
What Are Piles? Piles or haemorrhoids are swellings around the anus caused by enlarged or engorged veins. Piles Symptoms Piles may present as a lump at the anus or the lump may come out only when passing motion. Piles may also cause bleeding, typically dripping into the toilet bowl after opening the bowels. If the piles prolapse … Read more
What Exactly Is A Hernia? Your abdominal cavity is surrounded by muscles which keep all the internal organs from falling out. In the back, the muscles of the spine are thick and strong but on the front the muscles are thinner. At the upper part of your abdomen, the diaphragm separates your abdomen from your chest. You’d experience … Read more