Diagnosis of colon cancer differs in younger versus older patients despite similar complaints.

Abstract Colon cancer is common, affecting mostly older people. Since age is a risk factor, young patients might not be given the same attention as older ones regarding symptoms that could imply the presence of colon cancer. To investigate whether young patients, i.e., under age 50, complain of symptoms for longer than older patients until the diagnosis of colon cancer is established. In this retrospective cohort study, patients were divided into two groups: or = 50 (group 2). All had undergone surgery for left or right-colon cancer during the 10 year period of the study from January 2000 through December 2009 at one medical center. Rectal and sigmoid cancers were excluded. Data collected included age, geander, quantity and quality of complaints, duration of complaints, in-hospital versus community diagnosis, pathological staging, the side of colon involved, and overall mortality. The primary outcome was the quality and duration of complaints. Secondary outcomes were the pathological stage at presentation and the mortality rate. The study group comprised 236 patients: 31 (13.1%) were or = 50. No significant difference was found in the quantity and quality of complaints between the two groups. Patients in group 1 (