Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025
Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024
Symptom Clusters in Patients With Colorectal Cancer and Diabetes Over Time
Susan Storey1, Xiao Luo2, Jie Ren1
1Indiana University.
Objectives:
To examine symptoms and symptom clusters in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with or without diabetes at three key periods (0-6 months, 12-18 months, and 24-30 months) post-initial chemotherapy.
Sample & Setting:
Patients with CRC from a cancer center in the midwestern United States between January 2007 and December 2017.
Methods & Variables:
Eight of the most common symptoms (fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, depression, anxiety, peripheral neuropathy, physical function, cognition, and sleep disturbance) reported by patients with CRC and patients with diabetes were extracted from electronic health records. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify symptom clusters, which were assessed for patterns and clinical relevance.
Results:
Gastrointestinal issues and fatigue were the most prevalent symptoms in patients with CRC at each period. Across the three periods, patients with CRC and diabetes had more symptom clusters (n = 7) compared to patients with CRC without diabetes (n = 4). No stable symptom clusters were identified for either group.
Implications For Nursing:
Oncology clinicians must recognize that patients with CRC and diabetes may present with exacerbated symptoms or symptom clusters. Ongoing assessment and monitoring of patients with CRC and diabetes for symptoms and symptom clusters is important because they may be at an increased risk for higher symptom burden.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:15Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are: