The Wire

Gut injury is a common complication of cancer therapy, causing pain, bleeding and diarrhea, but new findings could improve the wellbeing of chemotherapy patients.

A new study by University of Adelaide researchers has found fasting before chemotherapy drastically increases the number and diversity of bacteria found in the gut and can improve treatment outcomes.

The side effects of cancer therapy had long been considered an unavoidable aspect of undergoing otherwise lifesaving treatment, but these findings could reduce pain in chemotherapy patients and even save lives.