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Dietary and Behavioral Adjustments to Manage Bowel Dysfunction After Surgery in Long-Term Colorectal Cancer Survivors

  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Bowel dysfunction is a known complication of colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. Poor bowel control has a detrimental impact on survivors’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This analysis describes the dietary and behavioral adjustments used by CRC survivors to manage bowel dysfunction and compares adjustments used by survivors with permanent ostomy to those with anastomosis.

Methods

This mixed-methods analysis included pooled data from several studies that assessed HRQOL in CRC survivors. In all studies, CRC survivors with or without permanent ostomies (N = 856) were surveyed using the City of Hope Quality of Life Colorectal Cancer tool. Dietary adjustments were compared by ostomy status and by overall HRQOL score (high vs. low). Qualitative data from 13 focus groups and 30 interviews were analyzed to explore specific strategies used by survivors to manage bowel dysfunction.

Results

CRC survivors made substantial, permanent dietary, and behavioral adjustments after surgery, regardless of ostomy status. Survivors who took longer after surgery to become comfortable with their diet or regain their appetite were more likely to report worse HRQOL. Adjustments to control bowel function were divided into four major strategies: dietary adjustments, behavioral adjustments, exercise, and medication use.

Conclusions

CRC survivors struggled with unpredictable bowel function and may fail to find a set of management strategies to achieve regularity. Understanding the myriad adjustments used by CRC survivors may lead to evidence-based interventions to foster positive adjustments after surgery and through long-term survivorship.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by VA HSR&D grant IIR-02-221, R01 CA106912, CA106912-02S1, Sun Capital Partners Foundation, and Arizona Cancer Center Support Grant CA023074. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the NIH, or any other funders.

Disclosure

Dr. Herrinton: Research funding support from Centocor, P & G, Genentech, and Medimmune. The other authors have no financial disclosures to report.

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Correspondence to Virginia Sun PhD, RN.

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Sun, V., Grant, M., Wendel, C.S. et al. Dietary and Behavioral Adjustments to Manage Bowel Dysfunction After Surgery in Long-Term Colorectal Cancer Survivors. Ann Surg Oncol 22, 4317–4324 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-4731-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-4731-9

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