Mr Anwar Owais is a highly experienced Consultant Colorectal and Robotic Surgeon practising at The Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and The Ridgeway Hospital in Swindon. He specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, rectal prolapse, and benign anorectal conditions, offering his patients advanced minimally invasive and robotic techniques for faster recovery and excellent outcomes.

After completing his early surgical training in Yorkshire and earning a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from the University of Hull, Mr Owais undertook higher surgical training in the Severn Deanery, gaining extensive experience across major hospitals in Bristol, Cheltenham and Gloucester. He later completed a prestigious fellowship in advanced laparoscopic colorectal surgery and complex pelvic malignancy at the renowned John Goligher Unit in Leeds.

Mr Owais has a particular interest in robotic and keyhole surgery for both cancer and benign colorectal disease, including transanal minimally invasive surgery (TEO) for early rectal cancers and benign rectal tumours. He is also a highly skilled colonoscopist with specialist expertise in complex polyp removal (endoscopic mucosal resection) and is accredited to interpret both small bowel and large bowel capsule endoscopy (PillCam).

Mr Owais is working hard to raise the awareness of Bowel Cancer by actively campaigning to promote the importance of early detection and treatment.

Daily Mr Owais will meet and review patients with minor or major problems. “I always advise patients not to scour the internet which leads to misplaced reassurance or inaccurate diagnosis. It is always better to book an appointment with an expert to get the diagnosis right from the outset.”

At clinic, Mr Owais takes full history from the patients, examines them and occasionally requests scans or procedures if further investigation is required. Having one or two symptoms of Bowel Cancer does not always mean that you have cancer.

He said, “Bowel Cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the UK. 90% of the patients that we see in clinic are 50 years old and over. However recently we have started to see an increased number of younger people diagnosed with the disease. It is therefore paramount we raise the awareness of Bowel Cancer symptoms to encourage early detection across all ages to assist with early diagnosis and treatment. In most cases it is curable if detected early.”

Recognising and acting on the five most common symptoms of Bowel Cancer is crucial:

1. Bleeding from the back passage, is the most important and common symptom of Bowel Cancer. Bleeding per rectum can be caused by benign diseases, but always best to seek advice and rule out a serious underlying cause.
2. Persistent and unexplained change in bowel habits, such as having diarrhoea or constipation.
3. Unexplained weight loss.
4. Unexplained tiredness, due to anaemia arising from blood loss is another common symptom of Bowel Cancer.
5. Having a lump in the abdomen or the back passage, is hard to identify unless you have a flat tummy alongside advanced Bowel Cancer, this is not very common. However, the most identified lump associated with Bowel or Anal Cancer is a painful lump in the anus.

Mr Owais advises, “if a patient ever experiences one or more of the above symptoms, they MUST not delay reporting it to their GP. Most of these symptoms can be vague and can have other explanations for them. Noticing any of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that you have Bowel Cancer.

We receive hundreds of referrals every week for patients who have the above symptoms. Reassuringly only a small percentage of these patients go on to receive a Bowel Cancer diagnosis. But every single referral was WARRANT and every investigation was essential, it is never a waste of my time.”

Mr Owais emphasised ” The earlier we diagnose Bowel Cancer the more likely patients are to survive it. Thankfully Bowel Cancer is a treatable and a curable condition when detected early."

• Bowel (colorectal) cancer surgery
• Robotic and laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery
• Colonoscopy and advanced endoscopic polypectomy
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis)
• Rectal prolapse and benign anorectal disorders
• Complex abdominal wall and hernia repair
• Sigmoid Colectomy for Diverticular Disease
• Surgery for Pilonidal Disease
• Crohn's Disease Treatment 

• Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
• Member of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland