Older female colorectal cancer survivors often experience persistent GI symptoms
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Key takeaways:
- Researchers identified gas and/or bloating as the most prevalent and severe GI symptom.
- Significant risk factors for GI symptoms included time since cancer diagnosis, advanced cancer stage and poor diet.
More than 80% of older women who survived colorectal cancer experienced a range of gastrointestinal symptoms that sometimes persisted for decades, according to data published in PLOS One.
Severe symptoms appeared to be linked to poor quality of life, interference with daily social and physical activities, as well as low body image satisfaction.
“Many cancer treatments show great success, and many cancer survivors are living longer than ever,” Claire J. Han, PhD, DNP, RN, APRN-CNP, assistant professor of nursing at The Ohio State University, said in a press release. “GI symptoms among survivors have been underinvestigated in the past, but we found that they are very prevalent even up to 25 years after diagnosis, suggesting it’s very important to consider GI symptom management as part of their survivorship care.”
Background and methodology
Prior research showed colorectal cancer survivors can experience long-term symptoms after treatment; however, data are limited about the extent and impact of GI symptoms for these individuals.
Han and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing data from the Women’s Health Initiative Life and Longevity After Cancer study to assess risk for and impact of persistent GI symptoms among women who survived colorectal cancer.
The analysis included 413 postmenopausal women (mean age, 71.2 years; mean time since diagnosis, 8.1 years).
Results
The majority (81%) of women in the cohort reported persistent GI symptoms.
Gas/bloating appeared to be the most prevalent (54.2% ± 0.88) and most severe symptom reported, followed by constipation (44.1% ± 1.06), diarrhea (33.4% ± 0.76) and abdominal/pelvic pain (28.6% ± 0.62).
Researchers identified multiple factors significantly associated with development of GI symptoms after treatment. These included time since cancer diagnosis (< 5 years), advanced cancer stage, high psychological distress, poor dietary habits and low physical activity. Two factors — fatigue (beta = 0.21, t = 3.557) and sleep disturbance (beta = 0.2, t = 3.336) — appeared to be the most significant risk factors for long-term symptoms.
High severity of GI symptoms correlated with poor quality of life, increased daily life interference and low body image satisfaction.
The findings indicate a need for “comprehensive interventions for colorectal cancer survivors such as psychosocial support, pain management, individualized nutritional counseling and physical rehabilitation,” Han said in the release.
References:
- GI symptoms persist in older female colorectal cancer survivors (press release). Available at: https://news.osu.edu/gi-symptoms-persist-in-older-female-colorectal-cancer-survivors/. Published Aug. 1, 2023. Accessed Aug. 22, 2023.
- Han CJ, et al. PLoS One. 2023;doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0286058.
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Han CJ, et al. PLoS One. 2023;doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0286058.
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