It’s like something out of science fiction, or the Six Million Dollar Man, but the bionic bottom is a reality. A man from Barnsley, South Yorkshire (UK) who was horrifically injured in a motorcycle accident has managed to avoid having a lifelong colostomy thanks to an operation which attached electrodes to strategically placed nerves — operated by remote control — around his bottom. He then carries around a small cell phone sized device which has a button on it that he presses which stimulates the nerves and moves his bowels for him.

The operation was carried out by Professor Norman Williams at the Royal London Hospital. The surgeon also used muscle that was cut from above the man’s knee and then pulled back to his groin

It’s a fascinating article, and goes to show that in the future it might just be possible to reverse the so called “permanent” colostomy. This certainly takes us one step closer to that dream!

The article was printed in todays Sun newspaper, and you can click on the link below to read the full article over on the Sun website.

Read more: http://bit.ly/sunbionicbottom

3rd October 2009… hey, thats today! It’s World Ostomy Day 2009 and many national ostomy associations are doing public events to themed to celebrate the day. The theme of this years event is “Reaching Out” be it to the general public to enhance their awareness of the ostomy associations and their vital work, or to the Ostomates themselves who maybe didn’t realise such associations existed to help them.

Here in the UK, the Birmingham Bullring is hosting an awareness event, featuring stands from many companies and associations. And, thanks to Julie at Breakaway, Ostomyland leaflets will be circulating the stalls too!

Full details of WOD09 can be found on the IOA website.

Useful Links:
International Ostomy Association

Salts Healthcare (UK) has just announced a drainable pouch for it’s newest two piece system – Harmony Duo. The new bag is as low-profile, soft and discreet as a one piece and is anatomically shaped to enable more flexibility and comfort for patients.

Peter Salt, Managing Director, Salts Healthcare, added

“We are delighted to offer a wide range of choice and flexibility for stoma patients.  We have a very ethical and patient-friendly approach with all our products and to know we are changing lives for the better is a key driver for us.  The positive feedback we have received about Harmony Duo will enable to us to continue our research and development to continue to improve lives.”  

To read the full media release from Salts Healthcare, please click on the Read more link below. 

Read the rest of this entry »

I was excited to learn recently of a new cancer drug called olaparib. Not only does olaparib show promise by targetting specific cancer cells (thus sparing healthy ones), its inrended use will be for hereditary cancer caused by faulty BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes – which includes some colon, prostate and ovarian cancers. These are some of the cancers faced by Ostomyland Members.

So far the small scale patient trial has shown remarkable benefit for patients with breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. The next step is to extend the trial.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer scientists think that if future trials are positive, olaparib could offer hope to patients with certain types of breast and ovarian cancers that are currently hard to treat. Scientists are already suggesting that it could be used for other forms of cancer with similar characteristics and open the door to a new generation of cancer treatments using the same approach.

They hope that olaparib may also work for some people who do not have a BRCA gene fault.

For more information see these two web articles:
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre Pioneering Work Leads To Patient Trial Of New Generation Cancer Drug

Can you tell me about olaparib?

Don J. Schiller, MD, FACS, a recognized expert in BCIR surgery for continent and conventional ileostomy patients, will deliver an address on August 21, 2009 at the 24th Annual Education Symposium of the Quality Life Association (more information on QLA at http://www.ileostomy-surgery.com). This is a nonprofit nationwide association aimed at meeting the special needs of a person with a continent diversion and to educate others of the latest advances in ostomy options. The program this year at the meeting in Mesa, AZ features Dr. Schiller who will be speaking about the current status of the continent ileostomy in America and around the world. He will also be participating in the Physicians Panel and Breakout Groups.

Dr. Schiller has been performing the Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir or BCIR procedure since 1989. The Barnett Pouch procedure evolved out of the original Kock Pouch continent ileostomy. The BCIR is a type of ileostomy that does not require wearing an external stoma appliance or bag. It stores intestinal waste and gas until a convenient time when the person inserts a catheter to evacuate the pouch contents into a toilet receptacle. It therefore gives a patient control over the discharge of their intestinal waste.

The BCIR is for people (usually with Ulcerative Colitis or Familial Polyposis) that need to undergo total colectomy meaning removal of their large intestine – the colon and rectum – to cure their disease or condition. It is an alternative to a conventional Brooke ileostomy with the bag, and also is performed for people who have a poor outcome from an ileoanal “J” Pouch or who cannot undergo the J pouch procedure. Anyone in overall good health with a malfunctioning ileostomy, including people with a stoma hernia or stoma prolapse or retraction, are candidates to be considered for the BCIR continent ileostomy. A malfunctioning ileostomy includes people with physical difficulties managing with their ileostomy appliance as well as people with emotional or psychological difficulties dealing with their stoma. A “bag-free” life is possible for ileostomy patients!

For more information, visit:
http://ileostomy-surgery.com/Ileostomy_and_BCIR_Frequently_Asked_Questions.html

About the Ileostomy Surgery Center:
The Ileostomy Surgery Center is the leading surgical center west of the Mississippi for the BCIR procedure (Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir). Headed by Don J. Schiller, MD, FACS, the center has been at the forefront of developments in ileostomy Surgery.

Contact:
The Ileostomy Surgery Center
9808 Venice Blvd, Suite 603
Culver City, CA 90232
Phone: (310) 204-4565
Fax: (310) 204-4566
http://www.ileostomy-surgery.com

NB: Ostomyland is not responsible for content outside of its own ostomyland.com/.org domains, and any services featured on Ostomyland are used at your own risk.

Aged just 41 with a 3 year old son, Lynn Faulds Wood was diagnosed with bowel cancer and given only a 34 per cent chance of survival.

That was 17 years ago. Since then Lynn has been campaigning for greater awareness and research into the disease. And the statistics have improved significantly.

In 2002 the voluntary charity Lynn’s Bowel Cancer Campaign was launched to help raise awareness of the disease and to highlight the symptoms to prevent more people dying.

Lynn and her team have a theme – spots. In the same way that ‘pink’ works for Breast Cancer Awareness Lynn hopes ‘spots’ will be synonymous with bowel cancer.

Lynn explains:
“We’ve chosen spots because we want people to know how to spot the symptoms, spot if it is in their family, and spot if screening has started in their area. By going ‘Spotty’ we hope to help break any taboos surrounding this common, and cruel cancer. We can’t afford to be squeamish and shy anymore in talking about bottoms and bowels. We hope people will join in the fun with a serious purpose and hold ‘Spotty’ themed days all over the country.”

For more information and to take part go to the
Lynn’s Bowel Cancer Campaign Website.

Ostomyland goes spotty to recognise the UK's Bowel Cancer Faster Diagnosis Week June 8th - 15th 2009

According to an article in ‘Medical News Today‘ results published recently in the journal ‘Ostomy Wound Management‘ showed that ET nurses and people living with all types of ostomy reported very high levels of satisfaction with a new moldable skin barrier pioneered by ConvaTec Ostomy Care.

The article states:
“The barrier’s soft, pliable adhesive is rolled open to fit the desired size and shape with no cutting necessary and then rebounds to gently hug the individual stoma and contours around the stoma for a secure, personalized fit. The proprietary technologies are featured on the company’s SUR-FIT Natura(R) ostomy system, currently available in the U.S. and Canada, and on other brands around the world.

The product was rated “very good” to “excellent” by a high percentage of nurses and participants with an ostomy across a range of criteria including ease of use, adherence and fit, effective skin protection, and overall satisfaction.

Both nurses and participants reported that the product was easy to apply, mold and create a customized fit, and gave it high ratings for effective skin protection.”

See the full article here:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151785.php

Yesterday I posted about Breakaway’s latest summer event having been a huge success. And today I’m delighted to be posting again about the activity weekends group for kids with bowel conditions or ostomies as I’ve been told this morning that they have achieved charity status! As the kids today would say… w00t! And, BA FTW!!!

This is fantastic news and I’d like to personally congratulate everyone associated with Breakaway but especially the groups founders Jules and Rach who have worked so very hard over the last few years to bring their vision to life.

Congratulations Breakaway!

Links: Visit the Breakaway Website

The NY Times recently reported about a possible shortage of Gastroenterologist surgeons within the United States Health System if current rates of colorectal cancer screening continue as they are.

The paper reports that a study by the Lewis Group has forecast that by 2020 an additional 1050 surgeons would be needed, and if the cancer screening rate increased by 10%  there may be as much as a 1500 shortfall in the required Gastro numbers.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Please feel free to leave comments and discussion about this story using the read user’s comments link below, or visit our lively forums and have your say!

For the full NY Times report please visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/health/research/09gastro.html?_r=2

This story was first posted on the Oland forums by Kathy_From_England - thank you to her for bringing this to our attention.