Is colorectal cancer associated with altered bowel habits in young patients?

Abstract

Background There is a rising incidence in young‐onset colorectal cancer, with these patients falling outside of routine screening programmes. The aim of the study is to characterize the nature of altered bowel habits in young patients who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Methods A retrospective audit was conducted of adult patients younger than 45 years admitted under a Colorectal Surgery unit (Dandenong Hospital, Victoria) from 2011 to 2019 for the resection of colorectal cancer. We compared the patients' self‐characterization of their bowel habits (from the medical record) with clinical and pathological data. Results A total of 75 patients were identified, aged between 18 and 45 years, who had surgical resection of colonic or rectal adenocarcinoma between 2011 and 2019. Forty‐two (56%) presented with altered bowel habit (irregular bowel habit n = 13, 17%; constipation n = 13, 17%; diarrhoea n = 23, 31%). Constipation approached significance in association with left‐sided colonic cancer. Fatigue approached significance in association with right‐sided colonic cancers, which were less likely to present with bleeding or constipation, and approached significance in being less likely to present with diarrhoea. Rectal cancers were more likely to present with bleeding. Conclusion Constipation was associated with left‐sided colonic cancers, while right‐sided colonic cancers were less likely to present with either constipation or diarrhoea. Our findings reinforce the need for clinicians to consider colorectal cancer as a differential diagnosis in young patients with altered bowel habits, or in patients with fatigue in the absence of specific bowel symptoms. Further prospective research is needed to further define bowel habits in this cohort.

Red Flag Signs and Symptoms for Patients With Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

“…Of the 12 859 unique articles retrieved, 699 full texts were reviewed, and 81 studies were included (Figure 1 and Table). There were 76 cross-sectional studies, 4 case-control studies, and 1 cohort study .…”

“…Of the 12 859 unique articles retrieved, 699 full texts were reviewed, and 81 studies were included (Figure 1 and Table). There were 76 cross-sectional studies, 4 case-control studies, and 1 cohort study . Studies were performed in Africa (5 studies), Asia or the Middle East (26 studies), Europe (19 studies), North America (23 studies), South America (5 studies), and Oceania (2 studies) .…”

“…There were 76 cross-sectional studies, 4 case-control studies, and 1 cohort study . Studies were performed in Africa (5 studies), Asia or the Middle East (26 studies), Europe (19 studies), North America (23 studies), South America (5 studies), and Oceania (2 studies) . There were 67 studies deemed to have low risk of bias, 10 studies with moderate risk of bias, and 4 studies with high risk of bias, based on JBI checklists.…”

“…36 Studies were performed in Africa (5 studies), 31,41,54,65,84 Asia or the Middle East (26 studies), 18, 35, 37, 42, 48, 49, 51-53, 56, 62, 66, 67, 71, 77, 78, 80, 82, 85, 96, 99-104 Europe (19 studies), 28,29,40,43,45,46,50,55,57,58,60,63,64,72,73,75,87,91,93 North America (23 studies), 12, 27, 32-34, 36, 39, 44, 47, 59, 61, 68-70, 74, 81, 86, 88, 92, 94, 95, 97, 98 South America (5 studies), 30,38,83,89,90 and Oceania (2 studies). 76,79 There were 67 studies 12, 13, 27, 28, 30, 32-34, 36, 38-40, 44, 45, 47, 48, 51-77, 79, 81, 83, 84, 86-102, 104 deemed to have low risk of bias, 10 studies 18,29,31,35,37,46,50,80,85,103 with moderate risk of bias, and 4 studies 41,49,…”

Üçüncü basamak hastane endoskopi ünitesinde kolonoskopik polipektomi deneyimimiz

“…Knowing the symptoms of CRC allows the disease to be diagnosed at an early stage. e rst symptoms of CRC are rectal bleeding and changes in defecation habits 6 . Evaluation of the colon with colonoscopy in patients with stool occult blood or with symptoms similar to colon cancer symptoms will help detect possible colon tumors.…”