Written for Our Cancer Stories.
Excerpt
The human body, and particularly the gut, is home to over a thousand species of bacteria, fungi and viruses. While microbes in general often have a bad reputation for causing sickness and disease in humans, the many species residing in the gut — particularly the large intestine — have a symbiotic relationship with and play important, beneficial roles in the human body.
The gut microbiota, sometimes referred to as gut flora, gut microbiome, or colloquially ‘gut bacteria’ (despite the presence of non-bacterial species), is also regarded collectively as an oft-neglected endocrine organ. With the endocrine system’s responsibility of regulating cellular growth and repair, researchers considered that it is possible that the gut microbiota could have an influence on colorectal cancer development and growth.
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Samantha Phua 