werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (02/12/86)
<<<<>>>>> A up-and-coming liability lawyer is in your office complaining of alternating constipation and diarrhea, with occasional tenesmus (painful non-productive bowel movements -- more colorfully described as dry heaves of the Rectum), occasionally passing just mucus, or just a pencil thin small stool. There is no gross blood as far as he can tell. He denies any indigestion at any point, although occasionally says he has some lower abdominal discomfort associated with the episodes of diarrhea. His father died at the age of 57 from cancer of the colon, although the patient denies any concern that this might be cancer -- repeatedly -- without prompting. 1. What does the patient almost certainly have? 2. What could the patient have, but almost certainly doesn't, but you had better make sure in light of his profession? -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner "Comedy, like Medicine, was never meant to be practiced by the general public."