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Table 3 Specific symptoms and associated bother

From: Self-assessed bowel toxicity after external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer - predictive factors on irritative symptoms, incontinence and rectal bleeding

 

time A (%)

time B (%)

time C (%)

time D (%)

rectal urgency ≥once a day

19

45

19*

14*

uncontrolled leakage of stool ≥once a day

3

7

4*

4*

loose or liquid stools ≥rarely

53

75

58*

60*

bloody stools ≥rarely

5

17

9

13

painful bowel movements ≥rarely

22

46

36

30

>two daily bowel movements

10

31

18

17

crampy pain in the abdomen or rectum ≥once a day

1

15

6

5

moderate/big problem from:

    

rectal urgency

6

32

16

13

increased frequency of bowel movements

4

30

16

11

watery bowel movements

2

19

11

6

losing control of stools

1

12

8

5

bloody stools

0

3

2

3

abdominal/rectal pain

4

18

13

8

bowel habits overall

6

30

17

13

  1. p < 0.01 for all comparisons relative to baseline scores at time A
  2. *difference not significant (χ2-test) in relation to baseline percentage (time A)