Abnormalities of normal gastrointestinal (or gut) function at all levels of the gastrointestinal tract leading to a myriad of symptoms. While poorly defined, it is likely that the symptoms experienced by people reflect the level of abnormality. This may result in symptoms such as weight loss, dental deterioration, salivary excess, dysphagia, gastroparesis, decreased bowel movement frequency, and anorectal dysfunction.
Gut dysfunction
My name is YinYin, and I am a research assistant at IMPACCT and I’m also studying my masters at UTS and my project focus is on gut dysfunction in palliative care.
Palliative Care is not just limited to the management of symptoms. There is such a wide range of aspects that Palliative Care covers, it includes emotional, physical, social, mental and spiritual support.
And all of these collectively with caring and compassionate clinicians, not only improves the quality of life for patients but also for their family members, their children and their caregivers.
Clinical trials give us a better insight and places a core focus on the patient, and to discover what really is affecting them what they’re experiencing, what does and doesn’t work, and this helps them feel more satisfied with the treatments they are receiving and also to help them live as comfortably and as fully as possible.
Gut dysfunction is a highly common side effect in palliative care, when patients are attending emergency departments, or being hospitalised, one of the main concerns is in fact constipation, and this is a major factor in reducing a person’s quality of life.
Research in this area will help provide a consensus and provide a suitable and effective diagnosis and management strategy to help treat these symptoms earlier.
Research program
The Gut Dysfunction SNSC's program of work includes secondary data analysis, population data analysis, questionnaire and qualitative studies to try to understand people's experiences, Rapid program series, and more recently, randomised controlled studies.
The Gut Dysfunction SNSC would be delighted to hear from anyone who is interested in joining them in their work to enhance the evidence base about how best to approach the distressing problem of impaired gut function. To find out how to get involved, email paccsc@uts.edu.au (palliative interest) or cst@uts.edu.au (cancer symptom interest).
From biotechnology to quality of life
#PooIsNotTaboo - a blog by our Chair, Dr Hannah Wardill
Subcommittee Chair
Dr Hannah Wardill is an NHMRC CJ Martin Biomedical Research Fellow leading a program of translational research focused on improving the quality of life of people living with and beyond cancer by addressing acute and chronic side effects of cancer therapy. As a self-described "disrupter", she challenges convention, advocating for supportive care to be better integrated into modern cancer treatment in a manner that addresses the patient’s unique and personalised needs.
Hannah’s program of research leverages on her background in gastrointestinal physiology, mucosal immunology and microbiology, applying principles of gastroenterology to address bowel dysfunction caused by cancer therapy. She has secured close to $1M to address bowel dysfunction in people with cancer, developing new preclinical models to identify targetable mechanisms, screen new therapeutics prior to clinical investigation, and develop novel methods of risk prediction based on the microbiome.
With over 45 peer-reviewed journal articles, strong public outreach/consumer engagement and active involvement in local, national and international supportive care organisations, Hannah’s contribution to the field has been widely recognised, named the MASCC International Investigator of the Year, the 2020 40Under40 winner of the Social Impact Award, the Qiagen Microbiome Award and is a 2021 Superstar of STEM.
