Summary Eighty-three women, mean age 45 years, successfully treated by surgery (S) (Weijmer Schultz et al., 1991;Corney et al., 1993). Outcome has generally been assessed in terms of the effect on sexual intercourse ignoring such potentially crucial intervening variables as the impact of the disease and treatment on the woman's emotional status and her relationship with her partner. In a pilot study (Van de Wiel et al., 1990) found that men experienced serious difficulties in supporting their partners through treatment for gynaecological cancer, as well as in their sexual relationship. Clearly more attention needs to be given to the wider needs of these patients and their partners.Often the psychological concerns of cancer patients go undetected and unrelieved (Maguire, 1985). Certainly it may be as difficult for cancer patients as for their doctors to open the discussion about sexual matters in a routine consultation (Auchincloss, 1989). It has variously been suggested that improved information and counselling in routine care could enhance post treatment outcome (Capone et al., 1980;Auchincloss, 1989) and that for some patients psychotherapy is indicated (Bos-Branolte et al., 1987)

No abstract

SUMMARY The tensile properties of the colon have been examined using methods which gave repeatable results. They showed little change after storage in salt for up to five weeks. The burst strength remained unchanged along the length of the colon. The tensile strength fell distally, as the thickness of the colonic wall increased. The width at burst decreased distally as did the internal diameter.