The lining of the gut is very similar all the way from the mouth to the anus, it just differs in thickness, Dr John Ding explains.

Gastroenterologist John Ding specialises in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Both conditions can cause inflammation of the colon and rectum, and if left untreated can be a pre-cursor to bowel cancer.

Stephanie and John discuss diagnosing both conditions via colonoscopy and gastropathy, as well as non-invasive procedures such as an intestinal ultrasound and faecal investigations including the breakthrough test, faecal calprotectin.

Dr Ding further explains the importance of a good to excellent bowel prep to ensure the bowel lining is clean, so it is visible by a gastroenterologist during colonoscopy. This decreases the risk of complications, such as bleeding and perforation, and increases detection of pre-cancerous polyps and cancer.