HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Ulcerative colitis can lead to weight loss through different means such as poor absorption of nutrients from food and drink, altered appetite. It can unfortunately lead to complications that require surgical intervention. Some of these are : (1) toxic megacolon that is not responding to medical treatment - this is severe distension of the intestines that can cause decrease blood supply to some areas (2) fulminant attack not responding to medical treatment- this is severe diarrhoea, cramps, distended abdomen, fever, high white blood cell count (3) uncontrolled bleeding (4) changes on biopsy that are suggestive of cancer or early cancer signs (5) long term steroid dependence If his doctors have stated that he has a complication of ulcerative colitis that requires surgical treatment then it is unlikely that medical management of this complication is possible or likely to result in a satisfactory result. He should voice his concerns to his doctors , discuss the idea of surgery and any other options. If there are no other options that would help as well as surgery then he should consider it. If the tests that he had done include a biopsy of the colon and there are early cancer changes, surgery is the only option that will save his life. I hope this helps