Table 4.
Initial Symptoms and Patients’ Attributions by Tumor Site (n = 110)a
| Variable | Tumor Site
|
χ2 (1) | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proximal n = 27 | Distal n = 83 | |||
| Initial symptom, n (%)b | ||||
| Bleeding | 7 (25.9) | 57 (68.7) | 15.30 | .001 |
| Change in bowel habitsc | 13 (48.1) | 43 (51.8) | 0.11 | .741 |
| Malaised | 11 (40.7) | 19 (22.9) | 3.27 | .070 |
| Weight loss (unintentional) | 5 (18.5) | 13 (15.7) | 0.12 | .728 |
| Abdominal pain | 8 (29.6) | 9 (10.8) | 5.50 | .019 |
| Rectal pain/pressure | 3 (11.1) | 9 (10.8) | 0.00 | .969 |
| Alternative attributions, n (%) | ||||
| Hemorrhoids | 3 (11.1) | 33 (39.8) | 7.59 | .006 |
| Diet | 2 (7.4) | 13 (15.7) | 1.18 | .278 |
| Physical injury or stress | 6 (22.2) | 6 (7.2) | 4.71 | .030 |
Note:
a
Specific tumor site was not available on two patients, whose sites were listed in the Oncology Data Services (ODS) electronic registry as “colon, not otherwise specified”;
b
Several patients reported multiple initial symptoms;
c
Change in bowel habits combines constipation, diarrhea, altered stools (e.g., narrow, dark, containing mucous).
d
Malaise combines loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, feeling ill.