Asif Haq

27/09/2021

More lovely feedback, this time from a bowel cancer patient I treated. Care is paramount to a surgeon's work and is as important as the technical stuff, so I'm delighted when I hear that this has been recognised and I've made a patient's experience more positive.

23/09/2021

I'm back busting another myth - a misconception you might sometimes hear about hernias. Are they only caused by heavy lifting? Watch to find out.

20/09/2021

There are a number of signs and symptoms of bowel cancer to be on the lookout for, the three main ones being blood in the stool, persistent pain in the abdomen and a noticable change in your bowel movements. If you experience any of these, you should see a specialist. There are other indicators that could point to a problem including increased bacteria in the gut, as this interesting article details.

BOWEL cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK. Most people diagnosed with it are over the age of 60. A recent study has found an indicator of the disease, which might put you at risk of colon cancer.

17/09/2021

Truly lovely to receive praise like this and it's nice to see the hard work of my secretary, Rona given credit too. We work together as a team to ensure our patients are taken care of from the moment they step through our door and beyond, into their recovery.

15/09/2021

I'm often asked why I got into surgery and the answer is simple. It's certainly not for the regular hours (because the hours are far from regular). The fact is, it's so fascinating to be involved with complex operations that help my patients get back to their normal lives. Also, the job satisfaction is huge - so I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

08/09/2021

Many of us experience acid reflux at some point in our lives - and it's not particularly pleasant! It's often accompanied by 'heart-burn' - a burning sensation in the chest as well as a sour taste in the mouth which is caused by stomach acid traveling up the oesophagus. In most cases, it's nothing serious but, if it's persistent, it's definitely worth seeing your GP as it could point to acid reflux disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.

07/09/2021

In any walk of life, it's nice to be nice. Forming strong connections with patients is really important to me so it's great to hear when it's appreciated. Explaining the process a patient is going to be going through is also central to what I do, so that they understand what's happening and why.

03/09/2021

It's great to see a national treasure like Stephen Fry speaking so openly about his experiences of prostate cancer and sharing his story so that others can learn from it. I can't put it any better than the great man himself:

“Many of us can succumb to cancers but there are symptoms that can be reported by the patient.

“So please, make an appointment with your GP if you notice discomfort in the tummy area or diarrhoea for three weeks or blood in your p*e even just once.”

The actor and comedian was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer in 2018. | ITV National News

30/08/2021

Some quick stats on bowel cancer - an area I specialise in. Always remember that this condition is treatable and curable, especially if you see a specialist at an early stage. Early diagnosis is so important, so if you see any signs, get checked out.

24/08/2021

Many people delay going to see their GP even under normal circumstances, but never more so than in the pandemic. Some held back from visiting because the NHS were burdened with patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 and they didn't want to place any more weight on the system. No matter the circumstances, if you have concerns and are showing any symptoms, it's really important to get checked out.

About 10% fewer people with cancer than normal have been seen over the past year, figures show.

23/08/2021

The pandemic gave medical professionals all kinds of challenges to deal with. With a little extra planning and careful consideration of the new procedures, we managed to continue to treat patients and it was especially rewarding when they expressed their gratitude about treatment being available despite the obvious difficulties.

20/08/2021

Can you go straight back to exercise after undergoing hernia repair surgery? Find out right here...