Dr. Kavin Nanda

Bowel Cancer – The Facts
Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in Australia, with 80 Australians dying from the disease every week.  If you are over the age of 50, or have a family history of bowel cancer this places you at increased risk. It develops in the large intestine, where it can grow to form an abnormal lump of tissue, often called a ‘polyp’.  Many of these polyps are not cancerous, but over many years, some may turn into bowel cancer.   If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. The good news is that bowel cancers that are caught early are treated successfully in 90% of patients.
Why Screening Works
Early testing for bowel cancer saves lives, and is being actively promoted by the Australian Government.  Because bowel cancer often develops without symptoms, screening tests are the best way of detecting the disease when it is still early, and treatable. The test looks for any blood in the stool (often in microscopic quantities you can’t see) which can be an early sign of bowel cancer, and other bowel related conditions. The earlier you are diagnosed, the more effective the treatment.  Extensive research studies have shown that bowel cancer screening reduces deaths from bowel cancer. The screening test for bowel cancer is a simple, non invasive test called Faecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT).  It is a test done in the privacy of your own home without the need to get your hands dirty, and is then sent via post to get a result.
If you want peace of mind, then contact the rooms for a free screening kit

The pancreas is a solid organ in the abdomen that makes hormones (e.g. insulin) and enzymes (e.g.  ) that help breakdown food. These substances are either secreted directly into the blood-stream, or join the secretions of the gallbladder, via a tube or duct, which eventually enters into the small intestine.
There are many conditions that can affect the pancreas. Some of these happen quickly (i.e. Acute), whilst others occur slowly (i.e. Chronic). An example of an acute condition is acute pancreatitis, in which the pancreas becomes inflamed, loses much of its function
Pancreatic disease can cause intense symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, sweats, jaundice (yellow tinged skin and eyes) & diarrhoea or it can be virtually silent, until it is fairly advanced.
Like most organs in the body, the pancreas can also be affected by benign and cancerous growths.

Pancreatic diseases are diagnosed through a comprehensive history, physical examination, laboratory testing, imaging tests and advanced endoscopic procedures (e.g. ERCP).

Treatments of pancreatic disease can include, diet & lifestyle changes, specific medications, advanced endoscopic procedures and surgery

Dr Nanda has particular expertise and fellowship training in the assessment and management of pancreatic disease.  Call today to arrange an appointment.

The biliary tree is the medical term for the gallbladder and the ducts (tubes) that lead from the gallbladder & liver down to the small intestine. These tubes carry Bile, which is produced in the liver, and concentrated in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is tucked up underneath the liver, and is located in the right upper quarter of the abdomen.  Bile is a complex mixture that aids the body in digesting foods, especially fat.
Like most organ systems in the body, the biliary tree can also be affected by inflammation & infection, and by benign & cancerous growths. Biliary diseases can cause pain in the right upper corner of the abdomen, and cause jaundice, (yellow tinged skin & eyes, and pigment changes in the stool and urine), by a disruption to the normal drainage of bile. Gallstones are another common biliary disease which can range from being completely asymptomatic to causing severe pain, jaundice, pancreatitis and infection.

Biliary diseases are diagnosed through a comprehensive history, physical examination, imaging tests (e.g. CT scans), and advanced endoscopic procedures (e.g. ERCP).

Treatments of biliary disease can include, diet & lifestyle changes, specific medications, advanced endoscopic procedures and surgery

Brisbane based gastroenterologist Dr Nanda has particular expertise and fellowship training in the assessment and management of pancreatic disease. Call the number at the top of this page today to arrange an appointment, or fill in the short form on our contact page.

If you're in or around Brisbane, and would like to learn how to better manage & treat IBS, simply get in touch with Dr. Kavin Nanda. He is a Brisbane gastroenterologist and IBS specialist. To book an appointment with Dr. Nanda, call the number at the top of this page or fill in the short form on our contact page.

What we eat and drink, normally travels the length of our gastro-intestinal tract. It provides us with all the key elements to sustain us, from carbohydrates, fats, & proteins, to vitamins and minerals, and other elements.
What we eat also has a key interaction with the millions of normal ‘healthy’ bacteria that reside in our digestive tract, and it also plays a role in almost all disorders that affect our gastro-intestinal tract. It is what sustains us, and at times, what ails us.

Science has an ever increasing understanding of these interactions, and thus, in managing both good gastro-intestinal health and disease, a close analysis and understanding of your nutrition is vital.

Working closely with dietitians and other specialists, Dr Nanda has particular expertise and fellowship training in nutrition management, and how it can improve your general and GI health. Call today to arrange an appointment.

Coeliac disease is a condition in which the immune system responds abnormally to a protein called gluten, which the leads to damage to the lining of the small intestine. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, and numerous prepared foods. The small intestine is responsible for absorbing food and nutrients. Therefore, damage to the lining of the small intestines can lead to difficulty absorbing important nutrients; this problem is referred to as malabsorption.

Most people have heard of reflux or heartburn – that sickly feeling in the chest when stomach acid refluxes up into the oesophagus. Whilst for many this is a mild inconvenience that happens occasionally and disappears as quickly as it appeared, for others it can be a considerable problem.

Reflux itself is caused by stomach acid leaking up from the stomach past the lower oesophageal sphincter, the structure normally keeping the contents of the stomach down. When this event causes symptoms more than twice a week, it becomes a condition known as GORD ­– Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease.

What is Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease that can occur at any point along the intestinal tract, including the mouth. This condition is chronic and causes ulcers to form anywhere along this mucosal layer of this tract.

Not surprisingly, this causes considerable pain that can occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus, as well as the need to empty the bowels regularly. Blood in the stool, fatigue and bloating can commonly occur as well.

Some people with Crohn’s disease also get mouth sores, skin rashes, joint pain and eye redness.

Crohn’s disease generally occurs in flares, periods of time when the condition flares up and symptoms are at their worst. As there is no cure through medication, the periods where symptoms are minimal are known as periods of remission, as the disease will eventually return.

Current medication for Crohn’s serves to reduce inflammation in an attempt to lower the amount of ulceration. It is generally unpredictable how well a medication will work for a given individual with this condition.

Generally speaking, the cause and mechanisms  of Crohn’s disease are not yet well understood. It is believed that an abnormal immune response or an interaction with infection may be triggers for the condition.