Bladder & Bowel Archive

When the skin comes in contact with fecal material for a length of time, it can become irritated and inflamed. That means proper care of the skin in the anal area is essential to maintaining comfort and preventing skin deterioration. Skin irritation is more than a misery. It can invite infection and even compromise your treatment if the skin becomes too sore for your muscles to work well. 

Skin should be cleansed after each episode of incontinence. Choose an extremely mild, nonalkaline soap — such as Dove or Basis — or buy one of the special cleansers designed to gently dissolve and remove stool and urine (such as Aplicare Antiseptic Perineal Wash). These are nonirritating, soap-free cleansing lotions; some are available in portable disposable wipes (Clinell Continence Care Wipes). They eliminate the need to scrub areas of tender skin, and some do not require that you rinse the skin after use.

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Being checked for hidden colorectal cancer is a smart bet, though it's hard to say whether it will ultimately extend your life span.

Recently, the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable—a national organization of medical groups, health care providers, government agencies, and patient advocates—launched the "80% by 2018" initiative. The goal is to convince more people to get screened for hidden colorectal cancer. Right now, about 65% of Americans do so.

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Ask the doctor

Q. Your recent article on recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) didn't mention much about urination. One of my friends told me that it could influence my chance of getting a UTI. Is that true?

A. Actually, your urination habits are a good place to start if you're trying to prevent UTIs. When sitting on the toilet, make yourself as comfortable as possible in a relaxed seated position—not a squat. Start the stream of urine by relaxing your pelvic floor muscles, rather than straining to urinate. Allow enough time for your bladder to empty completely.

Improve digestive health by addressing underlying causes of irregularity, as well as fluids, diet, and exercise.

You may drink coffee because it tastes good or helps you wake up. But the popular brew is also associated with health benefits, such as reducing the risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Now a study from Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute published Aug. 17, 2015, in the Journal of Clinical Oncology suggests that regular consumption of caffeinated coffee may be associated with a reduced recurrence of colon cancer, and even a reduced risk of death. The study included nearly 1,000 people with stage 3 colon cancer. They filled out questionnaires about their dietary patterns during chemotherapy, and then again six months after treatment was completed. People who drank four or more cups of coffee per day were 42% less likely to have cancer return than non-coffee drinkers, and were 34% less likely to die from cancer or any other cause.

This type of study doesn't prove that coffee drinking caused the lower chance of cancer recurrence and death. A randomized trial is needed to show cause and effect. But researchers are encouraged by the results. "Regular coffee intake has been associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, and it may be that through a similar mechanism, coffee may also improve outcomes for people with advanced colon cancer," says Dr. Charles Fuchs, senior author on the paper.

Ask the Doctor

Q. I had a colonoscopy recently and it detected hemorrhoids. I don't have any symptoms. Should I be doing something to get rid of them?

A. Like you, approximately 40% of people with hemorrhoids have none of the common symptoms—bleeding, anal itching, and pain. Their hemorrhoids may be found on a routine physical examination or during a test done for other reasons, such as a colonoscopy for colon cancer screening.

Repeated nocturnal bathroom calls are bothersome, but self-help steps and targeted treatment offer relief.

Get to know your triggers and ways to prevent flare-ups.

It may boost the effect of your current medication.

Q. Would you suggest I try taking a probiotic supplement for general colon health? I have a sensitive stomach and sometimes suffer from constipation.

A. Probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that live in our intestines and assist in digestion, have gained a lot of support lately. Each week, a new study appears describing health benefits or diseases associated with changes in the so-called microbiome—the diverse community of microorganisms each of us carries inside our body. Still, the benefits of adding probiotics to the intestinal tract are uncertain.

Probiotics have proved helpful in situations where the body's normal, healthy bacteria have been destroyed, such as after taking a powerful antibiotic. Small studies in people with irritable bowel syndrome have suggested that taking probiotics improves pain and diarrhea. The benefit in constipation is less certain, but it's reasonable for you to try taking a probiotic if you are interested.