Centre for GI Health

06/11/2025

There’s no single “perfect” diet for digestive health. The key is balance - variety, moderation, and regularity.

At the Centre for GI Health, we often remind patients that small, consistent habits make the biggest difference. A balanced mix of whole grains, nuts, berries, lean proteins, and vegetables supports both gut function and overall well-being.

Dr Matthew shares his own approach: coffee in the morning, followed by a homemade muesli packed with oats, nuts, berries, cacao nibs, and coconut yoghurt - simple, nourishing, and effective for managing mild gut symptoms.

When it comes to your gut, sustainable choices matter more than strict rules.

👉 If you’re managing ongoing digestive symptoms, speak with your GP or a gastroenterologist before making major dietary changes.

31/10/2025

Can AI Transform Cancer Detection and Treatment?

AI is no longer a secondary tool in oncology, it’s becoming a core part of modern cancer care. By integrating imaging, genomics, proteomics, and clinical data, AI enhances diagnostic accuracy, personalises treatment, and improves patient monitoring and care.

As highlighted in the “Current AI Technologies in Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment” article, AI’s insights still rely on molecular pathology, decoding genetic mutations and tumour biology, to provide the foundational signals. Molecular pathology and AI are advancing precision cancer care together.

On the Everyday Medicine podcast, I spoke with Dr Pranav Dorwal, Molecular Pathologist at Monash Health, about:
- How molecular pathology reveals the genetic code behind cancer
- The role of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes
- How genetic insights guide targeted therapies and clinical decisions

Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, or curious about where medicine meets technology, this conversation explores how AI and molecular precision are reshaping cancer care.

Links to the full article and podcast are in the comment section.

29/10/2025

Molecular pathology is reshaping how we understand and treat cancer.

By combining molecular analysis with traditional morphology and immunohistochemistry, we can observe disease at its most fundamental level and connect specific mutations with targeted therapies.

In this episode, I speak with Dr Pranav Dorwal, Molecular and Anatomical Pathologist at Monash Health, about how this evolving discipline underpins modern oncology, informing treatment algorithms, prognostic models, and the future of precision medicine.

🎧 Listen to Episode 162 of the Everyday Medicine podcast: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-182-molecular-pathology-with-dr-pranav-dorwal

Molecular pathology provides a comprehensive understanding of disease at its fundamental level and combines molecular analysis with traditional morphological and immunohistochemical methods. The field is continuously evolving as new information becomes accepted into mainstream practice. With molecu

21/10/2025

Thinking about the future of your practice might not feel urgent, but it’s one of the most important steps you can take.

In this podcast snippet, physiotherapist and author Michael Kenihan shares why every health practitioner should start planning now for their eventual exit, so when opportunity knocks, your practice is ready.

In the full episode 161, we also discuss:
- How to build long-term value in your practice
- What makes a business attractive to buyers or partners
- The mindset shift from “I’m not ready yet” to “I’ll be ready when the time comes.”

You can find the link to the full conversation in the comment section.

17/10/2025

Could subtle symptoms be the key to detecting ovarian cancer earlier?

Each year, around 1,800 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and more than 1,000 lose their lives.

Because symptoms can be subtle - bloating, pelvic pain, early fullness, changes in appetite or bowel habits - diagnosis often comes late.

In the Optimal Care Pathway for Women with Ovarian Cancer guide, Cancer Council highlights how early recognition, coordinated care, and clear communication between specialists and GPs can make a real difference.

🔹 What to watch for: persistent abdominal discomfort, increasing girth, or unexplained weight change.
🔹 Who’s at higher risk: women over 50 or those with a family history or BRCA1/2 mutation.
🔹 What best care looks like: multidisciplinary planning, timely investigations, and ongoing supportive care for every patient.

To unpack how clinicians can improve detection and management, I spoke with Professor Thomas Jobling, one of Australia’s leading gynaecological oncologists, on the Everyday Medicine podcast. We explore:
• When to investigate an ovarian cyst found incidentally
• Which symptoms should heighten clinical suspicion
• How to manage inherited risk in first-degree relatives

If you’re a clinician, GP, or anyone interested in women’s health, this episode offers practical, evidence-based insights from the frontline of ovarian cancer care.

🔗 Read the full article and listen to the episode. Links in the comments below.

09/10/2025

🎥 Understanding Food Intolerances: Beyond Gluten and Lactose

Not all gut symptoms mean a “food allergy.”
Sometimes, it’s a matter of how our body digests certain carbohydrates, like lactose or FODMAPs, rather than a true intolerance to the food itself.

For example, lactose intolerance can often be managed by switching to lactose-free milk or taking lactase enzyme supplements. But for others, what seems like “gluten sensitivity” might actually be a reaction to FODMAPs, fermentable carbohydrates that can cause bloating or discomfort.

Finding the real trigger takes careful detective work, ideally alongside a gastroenterologist and a dietitian trained in the low-FODMAP approach.

👉 If you suspect food intolerances are behind your symptoms, don’t guess and restrict unnecessarily. Get proper testing, guidance, and support, and your gut (and your wellbeing) will thank you.

07/10/2025

Each year, around 1,800 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, often late, when symptoms are vague and subtle.

Early recognition and risk awareness make a profound difference.

In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Thomas Jobling, gynaecological oncologist and researcher, to unpack:

- Current approaches to surveillance and risk management
- When an ovarian cyst deserves further investigation
- How to support patients and first-degree relatives at increased risk

Professor Jobling brings deep clinical experience and research insight to this conversation, including his work on BRCA-associated ovarian tumours and minimally invasive surgery.

If you’re a GP, specialist, or patient seeking a clearer understanding of detection and management pathways, this discussion provides practical, evidence-based takeaways.

🎙 Listen now on Everyday Medicine.

https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-181-ovarian-cancer-with-professor-thomas-jobling

If you found it valuable, share it with a colleague or patient - good medicine spreads through good conversations.

Each year in Australia, there are about 1,800 new diagnoses of ovarian cancer and over 1,000 deaths, making ovarian cancer the fifth most common cause of death from cancer in women. The lifetime risk is about 1.6%, increasing to 5% if a first-degree relative is affected, and 45% and 25% respectively

25/09/2025

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is moving from niche to noteworthy in gastroenterology.

A recent Journal of Translational Medicine study (2024) followed patients with Crohn’s disease who received HBOT. The results were striking:

- Significant reductions in inflammation markers like CRP
- Improvements in Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI)
- Healthier gut microbiome diversity, with more Bifidobacterium and less Escherichia

In other words, HBOT not only eased symptoms but appeared to reset the gut ecosystem.

This aligns beautifully with my recent conversation with Dr Neil Banham, Director of Hyperbaric Medicine at Fiona Stanley Hospital. In our podcast, we explored HBOT’s established and emerging indications, from decompression sickness and radiation injuries to Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

If you’re curious about where HBOT is heading in modern medicine, episode 180 of the Everyday Medicine podcast is a must-listen.

Check the comments for the full podcast and article links.

23/09/2025

When the First Fleet arrived in 1788, survival in a new land meant more than settling; it meant confronting medicine in its rawest form.

⚓ 11 ships, 1420 people, 8 months at sea.

🌾 Failed crops, dwindling supplies, and diseases like dysentery, tuberculosis, measles, and influenza.

🩺 The devastating 1789 smallpox epidemic among First Nations people.

In episode 17 of the Everyday Medicine podcast, I’m joined by Professor Chris Reynolds to explore the illnesses, conditions, and improvised solutions that shaped early colonial Australia, and to reflect on what we might still learn today from both history and Indigenous knowledge.

Tune in now. Link in the comment.

16/09/2025

On a recent trip to Ningaloo National Park, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr Neil Banham - Anaesthetist, Director of Hyperbaric Medicine at Fiona Stanley Hospital, and outdoor adventurer.

We explored the expanding role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) - far beyond its historic use for decompression sickness. From life-saving interventions like air embolisms to complex chronic conditions, including refractory wounds and inflammatory bowel disease, HBOT demonstrates the power of specialised, evidence-based care.

If you are a clinician, healthcare innovator, or curious about advanced therapies, tune in to learn how HBOT can make a real difference in people’s lives.

🎧 Listen and explore the potential of HBOT with Dr Neil Banham:

On a recent vacation to Exmouth on Western Australia’s far North coast, home to the amazing Ningaloo National Park, I had the pleasure of meeting Anaesthetist and outdoor adventurer Dr Neil Banham. I discovered that when Neil wasn’t kiteboarding, his daytime job was Director of Hyperbaric Medici...

11/09/2025

Cancer care can be complex, and GPs are at the centre of helping patients through every stage, from spotting early signs to supporting ongoing treatment and end-of-life care.

As Geoffrey K. Mitchell points out in "The role of general practice in cancer care" (Australian Family Physician), GPs bring continuity, emotional support, and practical guidance that really make a difference. Early detection requires careful judgment, and ongoing care involves collaboration with specialists and the patient’s broader support network.

In Episode 179 of the Everyday Medicine podcast, I had a conversation with Dr. Michael Fernando about how GPs can truly partner with patients and healthcare teams to navigate the ups and downs of oncology.

If you’re a GP, healthcare professional, or curious about oncology, tune in to this episode to learn more.

Link to the article and podcast are in the comments.

04/09/2025

Feeling bloated, sluggish, or struggling with your digestion?

You’re not alone and there are practical ways to support your gut and help it work more smoothly. Dr. Peverelle explains what habits can make a real difference for your digestive health.

🎥 Watch the reel to learn his top strategies to help your digestion feel better.