Causes of vaginal thrush

Vaginal thrush is a yeast infection that is usually caused by a type of fungus that lives naturally in the vagina. Most cases of thrush (80-90%) are caused by Candida albicans. The rest are due to other types of Candida fungi. Up to half of…

Introduction of Flatulence

Flatulence is passing gas from the digestive system out of the back passage. It is more commonly known as ‘passing wind’ or ‘farting’. Farting is often something laughed about but excessive flatulence can be embarrassing and can make you…

Introduction of Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a long-term that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. Inflammation can affect any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the back passage, but most commonly occurs in the last section of the…

Introduction of Constipation

Constipation is a common condition that affects people of all ages. It can mean that you are not passing stools (poo) regularly, or you are unable to completely empty your bowels. Constipation can also cause your stools to be hard, lumpy,…

Treating Kaposi’s sarcoma

The treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma depends on what type you have, your symptoms, how far the cancer has spread and your general health. Many hospitals use multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to treat Kaposi's sarcoma. These are teams of…

Diagnosing Kaposi’s sarcoma

Before diagnosing Kaposi's sarcoma, your GP will ask you about your general health and carefully examine your skin. If you have HIV or AIDS, the examination may be carried out by a member of your local HIV clinic who has experience of…

Causes of Kaposi’s sarcoma

Kaposi's sarcoma is caused by a virus called the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). It's thought this virus can alter the genetic instructions that control cell growth. This means…

Symptoms of Kaposi’s sarcoma

The symptoms of Kaposi's sarcoma vary depending on the parts of the body that are affected. The skin and internal organs are most commonly affected. The skin Any part of the skin, including inside the mouth, can be affected by Kaposi's…

Treating spinal muscular atrophy

There is currently no cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), but treatment can help improve the lives of people with the condition. As well as being cared for by doctors and nurses, a number of other healthcare professionals are often…

Causes of spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by faulty genes, usually passed on to a child by their parents. The most common types of spinal musclar atrophy – types I, II and III – are caused by a problem with a gene called SMN1. The SMN1 gene…

Diagnosis of bladder cancer

If you have symptoms of bladder cancer, such as blood in your urine, you should see your GP. Your GP may ask about your symptoms, family history and whether you have been exposed to any possible causes of bladder cancer - such as smoking.…

Symptoms of bladder cancer

Blood in your urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. The medical name for this is haematuria and it is usually painless. You may notice streaks of blood in your urine or the blood may turn your urine brown. The blood is not…

Preventing bladder cancer

It is not always possible to prevent bladder cancer, but you can reduce your risk of contracting it. Stopping smoking If you smoke, giving up is the best way to reduce your risk of developing bladder cancer and preventing it from recurring.…

Complications of bladder cancer

A diagnosis of bladder cancer, and some of treatments for it, can have a significant impact on your life. Emotional impact The emotional impact of living with bladder cancer can be huge. Many people report experiencing a kind of…

Treatment for bladder cancer

The treatment options for bladder cancer largely depend on how advanced the cancer is. Treatments usually differ between early stage, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and more advanced muscle invasive bladder cancer. Multidisciplinary…

Introduction of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is where a growth of abnormal tissue, known as a tumour, develops in the lining of the bladder. In some cases, the tumour spreads into the surrounding muscles. The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in your…

Preventing vaginal cancer

There is a strong link between certain types of human papilloma virus (HPV) and the development of abnormalities that may develop into vaginal cancer. HPV vaccination There is now a vaccine that provides protection against the two strains…

Complications of vaginal cancer

Treatment for vaginal cancer can have a significant emotional impact, particularly in women who have not yet reached the menopause and need to have radiotherapy or a hysterectomy. Both these treatments trigger an early menopause, which…

Treating vaginal cancer

Treatment for vaginal cancer will depend on how advanced the cancer is. Possible treatments include radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. If your GP gives you an urgent referral because they think you have cancer, you have the right to be…

Diagnosing vaginal cancer

Before diagnosing vaginal cancer, your GP will ask you about your symptoms and the pattern of your vaginal bleeding. They may refer you for blood tests to rule out other causes of vaginal bleeding, such as infection.  Referral to a…

Causes of vaginal cancer

The exact cause of vaginal cancer is unknown but there are risk factors that increase your chances of getting it, including HPV, smoking and your age. How does cancer begin? Cancer begins with a change in the structure of DNA, which is…

Symptoms of vaginal cancer

The most common symptom of vaginal cancer is vaginal bleeding. Bleeding often occurs during or after sexual intercourse and may be accompanied by pain. If you still have regular periods (you are pre-menopausal), the bleeding may happen in…

What happens during a biopsy

There are many ways of getting a tissue sample, depending on the type of tissue being collected and where in the body it's being taken from. CT scanning is often used to guide some types of biopsy. Scraping cells In some cases,…

Introduction of Vaginal cancer

Vaginal cancer is a rare type of cancer. There are around 260 new cases of vaginal cancer diagnosed in the UK each year. The most common symptom of vaginal cancer is painless bleeding from the vagina. See your GP if you experience any of…