Many Patients Will Experience Stool and Bowel Movement-Related Symptoms After Treatment for Colorectal and Anal Cancer-A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Purpose: Stool-related late complications have a major impact on patients’ quality of life. The objective of this study was to investigate stool and bowel movements as late complications to colorectal and anal cancer treatment. Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study from a single center using patient reported outcome measurements. We included patients who had surgery for colorectal and anal cancer from October 2019 to January 2022. This was supplemented by a subgroup of patients with late complications after chemo-radiation therapy for anal cancer. The study population comprised 293 patients. The main outcome included descriptive data on stool and bowel movement related complications. We used the Low Anterior Resection Symptom score (LARS), St Mark´s incontinence score, Bristol stool form scale, Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms Score (PAC-SYM), colostomy impact factor and self-rated health on a visual analog scale as measurement tools. Results: The low anterior resection symptom score was median 36 (range 24-41) in patients with rectum cancer, for patients with anal cancer it was 39 (4-41), for patients with a right or left sided hemicolectomy it was 26 (4-41) and 25 (0-41), respectively. Conclusion: Patients who had surgery for rectum cancer had in 90% of the cases major Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). Patients who underwent surgery for colon cancer would in about one third of the cases experience stool or bowel movement impairments. Patients with anal cancer who had chemo-radiation therapy experienced a very high degree of stool and bowel movement impairment.