There has been quite a lot in the media lately about ostomies – that is people with colostomy or ileostomy bags. With photographs of people flashing their stomas going viral and the #GetYourBellyOut ...

A stoma is an opening from an area inside your body to the outside, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. (Photo: Getty Images) You may not know the word for it, but odds are you've seen ...

You may not know the word for it, but odds are you've seen a stoma bag before. But while these pouches can be lifesavers for people with certain health conditions, there's a lot the general public ...

World Ostomy Day takes place every three years on the first Saturday in October. To mark this day on 2nd October, the stoma support charities (Colostomy UK, Ileostomy & Internal Pouch Association (IA) ...

A stoma is an opening in your belly's wall that a surgeon makes in order for waste to leave your body if you can't have a bowel movement through your rectum. You might get one if you have surgery to ...

Living with a stoma is challenging at the best of times. It gets harder when patients have to fight tooth and nail for access to dignified care. Now, ostomates have gathered at Helen Joseph Hospital ...

Stoma bag wearers are hitting back against the stigma of wearing a bag - with a courageous and revealing calendar shoot. From a young woman flaunting her toned abs and ever-present stoma bag to a ...

This is particularly true when it comes to re-engaging with a ‘normal’ life. Chronic illnesses, particularly invisible ones, are not always accommodated and there is pervasive shame and embarrassment ...

Youngsters across Reading and Wokingham took part in a craft competition which helped challenge the stigma of living with a stoma and colostomy bag. The Colostomy Association charity recently launched ...

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or ...