GastroNorth

25/11/2025

Dr Oliver Cronin chatted with Mark Bouris on Project100. An important discussion on the increasing incidence of bowel cancer in younger Australians and possible reasons why this is happening.

18/11/2025

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16/11/2025

On Saturday, two of our gastroenterologists presented at a GP educational event organised by Northpark Private Hospital. The program was designed to address some of the most common, yet challenging conditions encountered in primary care.

Dr Raouf Bassily provided a practical approach to treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Dr Shamilah Lachal discussed the latest in the management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The meeting was a great opportunity to connect with our colleagues and have important discussions around the management of gastrointestinal conditions.

Thank you to the team at Northpark Private Hospital for inviting us to speak at this fabulous event.

13/11/2025

Watch Dr Oliver Cronin's interview on Mark Bouris’ Project 100 podcast. They discuss the rise of bowel cancer in younger Australians, why screening is important, and how optimizing the gut microbiome impacts overall wellbeing.

🎥 Watch now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=_BKYFkj7EUc&list=PL_gvQqYUHgm3XupCapXSW2y65mJprSoa_&index=3

All content and media by Project 100 is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional ...

13/11/2025

Polyps are tissue growths that can form on the lining of the large intestine (colon). They are common and getting older is a risk factor for developing polyps.

Many of these abnormal growths can be benign but others are considered pre-cancerous and have the potential to develop into cancer. You can have polyps but no symptoms.

Looking for pre-cancerous polyps during a colonoscopy is a standard part of bowel cancer screening and they can be removed during the colonoscopy procedure.

12/11/2025

Bowel cancer rates are rising among younger adults. In Australia, bowel cancer rates are 2-3 times higher for those born in the 1990s than those born in the 1950’s.

Discussions on how we can reduce our bowel cancer risk are important ones for all ages.

See the link in profile for 5 ways you can help reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer.

Let’s be proactive about our health. 💚

06/11/2025

For Dr Shamilah Lachal it’s never too early to kickstart the festivities. After all, it’s only 49 days till Christmas!! 💃🏻

She’s delighted to share with you, her much-loved gluten-free fruit cake recipe, an adaptation of Charmaine Solomon’s classic Sri Lankan Christmas Cake. Over the years, Shamilah has refined and balanced the ingredients to perfection, creating a version that everyone can enjoy. It’s rich, fragrant, and completely gluten-free.

Recipe via link in profile. 😋

30/10/2025

We will be closed next Monday and also on Tuesday (Melbourne Cup Day). Our consulting rooms will reopen at 9am on Wednesday 5th November.

28/10/2025

At Gastronorth, we offer Direct Access (Open Access) Endoscopy for simple gastrointestinal concerns and bowel cancer screening. This means that your GP can refer you straight for a procedure without the need for an initial specialist consultation.

This service is available for gastroscopy, colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy, for patients who meet specific eligibility criteria. Patient safety is always our top priority.

Before your procedure, you will still meet both your gastroenterologist and anaesthetist to discuss informed consent, your treatment plan, recovery, and to answer any questions you may have.
Please remember you’ll need someone to drive you home afterwards.

For more information, contact our friendly team on 9468 9700.

19/10/2025

Your gut is home to trillions of good and bad bacteria and the goal is to keep the good ones thriving. To do this, we can focus on the 3 F’s: Food, Fitness & Fasting.

🥗 Food: Add fermented foods (like kimchi, kefir, or kombucha) for probiotics, eat plenty of fibre-rich fruits, veggies, and wholegrains to feed good bacteria, and stay hydrated. Cut back on processed foods and sugars that harm your microbiome.

🏃‍♀️ Fitness: Move regularly, sleep well, and manage stress with mindfulness, yoga, or walks. Your gut and mind are deeply connected.

⏱️ Fasting: Try intermittent fasting (12–16 hours) once or twice a week to boost metabolic and gut health.

A healthy gut supports not only digestion, but also mental health, immunity, and protection against diseases like IBD, IBS, liver disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

13/10/2025

Ozempic (semaglutide) and other GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro copy the action of a natural gut hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. They have become widely used for type 2 diabetes and weight management.

These drugs delay how quickly food and fluid move through the stomach and into the intestines, which helps reduce blood sugar spikes and keeps you feeling full for longer.

Because food and fluid may stay in the stomach or bowel for longer, there’s a greater risk of an incomplete bowel cleanse or aspiration during sedation.
To ensure the safest and most accurate procedure, patients taking these drugs are advised to begin a clear fluid diet 24 hours before their colonoscopy, following specific guidance from their gastroenterologist.