The third most common cancer worldwide is colon cancer, and the survival rate ranges from 44% and 65%. Compared to healthy individuals, colon cancer survivors are more likely to suffer from back and lower abdomen pain due to future lesions.
This region of the body is the site of surgery in oncological treatment, and the abnormalities these patients may have increased sensitivity to future pain.
According to two studies published in Pain Medicine and the European Journal of Cancer Care, the physical and psychological status of patients with colon cancer after oncological treatment were analyzed.
The study ’s results suggest that colon cancer survivors have a 60% deterioration of functional capacity compared to healthy individuals. This is largely due to the lack of muscle strength in the back or cardiorespiratory capacity, according to principal study author Manuel Arroyo-Morales. In addition, symptoms like fatigue or moderate tiredness also impact the quality of life.
The next step for researchers at the University of Granada is to develop physiotherapy programs that improve the physical consequences of colon cancer and improve patient quality of life.
Back, Abdomen Pain More Likely in Colon Cancer Survivors
Researchers from the University of Granada have discovered that colon cancer survivors are more likely to suffer future lesions related with pain in the back and lower abdomen than healthy individuals of the same gender and age.
These patients present a series of abnormalities in the abdominal wall architecture-the site of surgery in oncological treatment. Moreover, they have specific abnormalities in processing chronic pain that may increase their sensitization to any kind of pain in the future.
From News Medical
