Posted in Colorectal Cancer

Did you know that depression and anxiety affect up to 27% of male patients with a cancer diagnosis? However 73% of male patients with depression are not receiving treatment for their mental health. [1] The figures are likely to be much higher if we broaden the definition of mental health impacts from depression to include moderately low mood, anger, weariness, or other impacts on cognitive function. Cancer treatment is tough on anyone, no matter how robust they seem. Men in particular m...

It may not be Luis Vuitton or Prada....but mama's got a new (ileostomy) bag.  Tales and experiences with a colostomy from one of our wonderful patients. Hi there, welcome to the club! If your experience was anything like mine, you were so beautifully cared for by the stoma nurses in hospital following your surgery. It felt like a safe little cocoon, and entering out into the world with your Colostomy bag (c-bag) on board felt a bit like leaving home. What I'd like to poin...

  Should patients with cancer exercise? Historically patients with cancer were advised to rest, however these days we know better! Physical activity and targeted exercise are beneficial for cancer prevention, recovery and survival, and should be a part of every cancer management program. The Department of Health and Human Services, the Americal College of Sports Medicine, and the specialist journal Oncology all have published multiple studies and review articles confirming...

What are functional foods? Functional foods are foods that have health benefits beyond providing basic nutrition. They have been researched and found to specifically influence health and reduce the risk of disease. Some people may call them superfoods, but there are many unsuspecting foods not labelled as 'super' which are also very beneficial and in fact very functional. A well-known example is the humble oat. Oats contain soluble fibre and beta-glucan which has been shown...

  Millennials, I'm talking to you! Monday was World Cancer Day, and the media releases that I saw on that day were very interesting as they were all about a healthy and preventative lifestyle! Even the Sydney Morning Herald led with the headline "Exercise and healthy diet key to reducing cancer rates, research shows"   Two of the biggest risk factors that lead to increased risk of cancer incidence and recurrence is the combination of obesity and sede...