Medical Qualifications

Austin Obichere trained at the University of Lagos Medical School and Stanford University Medical Centre. He was awarded an MD by the University of London in 2000 and he was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 2002.

Medical Experience 

Austin Obichere was appointed a Consultant Laporoscopic/Colorectal Surgeon at the London University College Hospital (UCLH) and Senior Lecturer at University College London (UCL) in 2003. He also treats patients at Highgate Hospital and the Harley Street Clinic. He is the Director of the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme at UCHL. He conducted specialist training in Coloproctology at St. Mark’s Hospital in London and the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

He is a trained laparoscopic colorectal surgeon with a specialist interest in minimal access bowel cancer surgery, colorectal cancer screening and surgical management of other benign disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and pelvic floor.

He is a Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) Accredited Bowel Cancer Screening Colonoscopist and the president of the West London Chapter of the IA Association (ileostomy & anal pouch). He is passionate about seeking alternatives to abdominal stoma and to improving the quality of life for patients.

He has maintained an active research interest in this field and is a member of the Surgical Sub-Group of National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI). He is the Chief Investigator of the ISAAC (Initial Surgery in Advanced Asymptomatic Colorectal Cancer) clinical trial, which is exploring the role of early surgical removal of primary tumours in patients receiving systemic chemotherapy for stage IV colorectal cancer. This trial has received funding and support from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the NCRI respectively.

In practice at

The University College London Hospital
NHS
Highgate Private Hospital
Private
The Harley Street Clinic
Private

Specialisms

Treatment options

Languages spoken:

English

Articles written by Mr Austin Obichere

Modern surgical management of faecal incontinence

Introduction Faecal incontinence is a major social problem affecting between two and 15% of the population. The condition is known to increase with age and it is estimated that 16% of men and 26% of woman above the age of 50 years will suffer from faecal incontinence. The cost implications for managing this condition in the community is considerable, with up to £100 million spent each year on incontinence pads, plugs or absorbents.

Treatment strategies for colorectal cancer

Bowel cancer is a major health problem in the United Kingdom. Men and women are equally affected by the disease and improved survival is dependent on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of early stage disease (no cancerous spread to the lymph glands or distant organs). It is now widely accepted that most bowel cancers arise from pre-cancerous polyps, and that early detection of these polyps through screening offers the opportunity to prevent bowel cancer developing and to treat the condition before it progresses to an advanced stage. A smaller proportion of bowel cancers are inherited and a detailed family history by the specialist is required to identify those who may be at risk of the disease. An early diagnosis of bowel cancer is critical.

Bowel Cancer Screening

Bowel or colorectal cancer is a common cause of cancer death. This article is essential reading for anyone who wants to know more about improving the outcomes for this disease and answers questions such as: Do I have symptoms of bowel cancer? What are the symptoms of bowel cancer? Should I be tested for bowel cancer? What’s involved in getting tested? What has been learned from bowel cancer screening trials? Does inflammatory bowel disease increase risk of cancer? Does the new blood test for bowel cancer work?