Diet and bowel symptoms among colon cancer survivors

Figures & data

Table 1. Cancer stadium, treatment and demographic data for the 844 respondents.

Smokers n (%)	113 (13)
Alcohol, items per week = 0–14, n (%)	721 (85)
Alcohol, items per week = 15–>21 n (%)	81 (10)
Charlson score = 0, n (%)	426 (50)
Charlson score = 1–2, n (%)	320 (38)
Charlson score =/> 3 n (%)	98 (12)
Performance status = 0, n (%)	559 (66)
Performance status = 1, n (%)	201 (24)
Performance status = 2, n (%)	40 (5)
Performance status = 3, n (%)	10 (1)
UICC stadium 0, n (%)	2 (0.3)
UICC stadium I, n (%)	229 (27)
UICC stadium II, n (%)	284 (34)
UICC stadium III, n (%)	244 (29)
UICC stadium IV, n (%)	63 (7)
Right-sided resection (%)	469 (56)
Left-sided resection n (%)	375 (44)
Chemotherapy before surgery, yes, n (%)	9 (2)
Chemotherapy after surgery, yes, n (%)	256 (30)

Due to missing values, not all percentages may add to 100.

Table 2. Self-reported effects of dietary items on bowel symptoms.

		Cancer localization
Dietary adjustments/food categories	All (N = 831)	Right colon (N = 461)	Left colon (N = 370)	p-value
Are there any food categories/items that improve or worsen your bowel function?
Yes, n (%)	267 (32)	163 (35)	104 (28)	0.078
No, n (%)	323 (39)	173 (38)	150 (41)
Don’t know, n (%)	241 (29)	125 (27)	116 (31)
Do vegetables (e.g., cabbage and onions) improve or worsen your bowel function?
Improve, n (%)	166 (21)	93 (21)	73 (21)	0.975
Worsen, n (%)	90 (11)	49 (11)	41 (12)
No impact, n (%)	534 (68)	295 (68)	239 (67)
Do fruits (e.g., apples and pears) improve or worsen your bowel function?
Improve n (%)	117 (15)	65 (15)	52 (15)	0.433
Worsen n (%)	48 (6)	31 (7)	17 (5)
No impact n (%)	622 (79)	341 (78)	281 (80)
Do dairy products (e.g., milk, yoghurt and cream) improve or worsen your bowel function
Improve n (%)	95 (12)	60 (14)	35 (10)	0.273
Worsen n (%)	54 (7)	31 (7)	23 (7)
No impact n (%)	629 (81)	342 (79)	287 (83)
Does meat (e.g., read meat) improve or worsen your bowel function?
Improve n (%)	24 (3)	18 (4)	6 (2)	0.111
Worsen n (%)	99 (13)	58 (14)	41 (12)
No impact n (%)	650 (84)	354 (82)	296 (86)
Do fats and fatty foods improve or worsen your bowel function?
Improve n (%)	14 (2)	9 (2)	5 (1)	0.399
Worsen n (%)	193 (25)	114 (26)	79 (23)
No impact n (%)	569 (73)	308 (72)	261 (76)
Do spices (e.g., spicy food or spices in general) improve or worsen your bowel function
Improve n (%)	33 (4)	22 (5)	11 (3)	0.084
Worsen n (%)	149 (19)	92 (21)	57 (17)
No impact n (%)	598 (77)	320 (74)	278 (80)
Do carbonated drinks (e.g., soft drinks, sparkling water, beer) improve or worsen your bowel function
Improve n (%)	27 (3)	18 (4)	9 (5)	0.475
Worsen n (%)	56 (7)	31 (7)	25 (7)
No impact n (%)
Do coffee and tea improve or worsen your bowel function
Improve n (%)	47 (6)	23 (5)	24 (7)	0.066
Worsen n (%)	34 (4)	25 (6)	9 (3)
No impact n (%)	702 (90)	386 (89)	316 (90)
Do sweets (e.g., sugar and sweets) improve or worsen your bowel function
Improve n (%)	7 (1)	5 (1)	2 (0.6)	0.706
Worsen n (%)	101 (13)	57 (13)	44 (13)
No impact n (%)	666 (86)	367 (85)	299 (87)
Does alcohol (e.g., beer, wine or liquor) improve or worsen your bowel function
Improve n (%)	17 (2)	9 (2)	8 (2)	0.897
Worsen n (%)	83 (11)	48 (11)	35 (10)
No impact n (%)	670 (87)	370 (87)	300 (87)
Did you during your treatment for cancer receive any dietary advice or recommendations
Yes n (%)	198 (24)	114 (25)	84 (23)	0.181
No n (%)	546 (66)	310 (67)	236 (66)
Don’t know n (%)	86 (10)	40 (9)	46 (13)
Did you since your treatment for cancer seek information about diet or nutrition
Yes n (%)	221 (27)	115 (25)	106 (29)	0.323
No n (%)	593 (71)	334 (73)	259 (70)
Don’t know n (%)	16 (2)	11 (2)	5 (1)

Data are presented as numbers (%). Fischer's exact test.

Results are given as numbers and (percentage).

Table 3. Supplements and Medication for managing Bowel symptoms.

		Cancer localization
	Total 831 (100)	Right colon n = 460	Left colon n = 371	p-value
Bulking agents, yes, n (%)	132 (16)	62 (14)	70 (19)	0.036*
Bulking agents, no, n (%)	697 (84)	397 (86)	300 (81)
Anti-diarrheal, yes, n (%)	53 (6)	35 (8)	18 (5)	0.117
Anti-diarrheal, no, n (%)	778 (94)	425 (92)	353 (95)
Fiber supplements, yes, n (%)	236 (29)	139 (30)	97 (26)	0.245
Fiber supplements, no, n (%)	590 (71)	320 (70)	270 (74)

Data are presented as numbers (%). Fischer's exact test.

*p < 0.05 Right colon compared to the left colon.

Table 4. Dietary advice is given by healthcare professionals.

	Cancer localization and symptoms
Dietary advice given by healthcare professionals (n = 44)	Right-sided resection with diarrhea	Left-sided resection with diarrhea	Left-sided resection with bloating
Vegetables (e.g., cabbage and onions)
Recommend n (%)	9 (21)	9 (21)	3 (7)
Avoid n (%)	14 (32)	13 (30)	28 (64)
Fruits (e.g., apples and pears)
Recommend n (%)	2 (5)	2 (5)	1 (2)
Avoid n (%)	17 (39)	15 (34)	12 (27)
Sweets
Recommend n (%)	1 (2)	1 (2)	1 (2)
Avoid n (%)	19 (43)	18 (41)	21 (48)
Spices (e.g., spicy food or spices in general)
Recommend n (%)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Avoid n (%)	11 (25)	14 (32)	14 (32)
Red meat
Recommend n (%)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Avoid n (%)	10 (23)	11 (25)	7 (16)
Fats and fatty foods
Recommend n (%)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Avoid n (%)	17 (39)	12 (27)	5 (11)
Dairy products (e.g., milk, yoghurt and cream)
Recommend n (%)	3 (7)	3 (7)	3 (7)
Avoid n (%)	5 (11)	3 (7)	7 (16)
Alcohol (e.g., beer, wine or liquor)
Recommend n (%)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Avoid n (%)	17 (39)	15 (34)	7 (16)
Coffee and tea
Recommend n (%)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Avoid n (%)	9 (21)	12 (27)	8 (18)

Data are presented as numbers (%).

Table 5. Medication prescribed against bowel symptoms.

	Cancer localization
	Right colon	Left colon
Bile acid sequestrants, surgeons only, n (%)	9 (53)	1 (6)
Anti-diarrheal, surgeons only, n (%)	10 (59)	11 (65)
Fiber supplements, healthcare professionals all, n (%)	41 (93)	42 (95)

Data are presented as numbers (%).