The rate of colorectal cancer diagnoses have been dropping since the mid-1980s, as a result of more Americans getting screened and changing their lifestyle-related risk factors. But this downward trend is mostly in older adults.
Gender differences also factor into colon cancer diagnoses, with men and women experiencing different symptoms, causes and risk factors.
A new American Cancer Society (ACS) report indicates that while mortality of all types of cancer are declining overall, new diagnoses are rising in women and in young adults, specifically younger women, with Native American and Black populations most at risk. Cancer rates in women aged 50-64 surpassed those in men, while diagnoses in younger women are 82% higher than their male counterparts.
To help you recognize potential signs and symptoms of colon cancer, and the risks they pose, this article provides information on:
- Colon cancer symptoms in women
- Colon cancer causes in women
- Colon cancer in women: Do risks differ from men?
If you or a loved one is concerned about possible signs or symptoms of cancer and would like an initial appointment or a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-460-4673.
Colon Cancer Symptoms in Women
Colon cancer is a malignant growth that starts on the mucosa — the internal skin — of the large intestine (colon), usually developing from a precancerous, wart-like growth called a polyp. While most polyps never turn into cancer, some do. In most people, these polyps are slow-growing and take years to become cancer. This provides an opportunity to prevent cancer by removing these precursor polyps during a colonoscopy.
Most men and women experience no colon cancer symptoms in early stages of the disease. In more advanced stages, common signs or symptoms of colon cancer in men and women alike include:
- Blood in or on the stool
- A persistent change in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation or narrower stools)
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Unexplained or unintended weight loss
- Iron-deficiency anemia
Because early symptoms are uncommon, screening is important in preventing or detecting the disease early. Screening, which is conducted for those with no symptoms, may help detect and remove polyps before they turn to cancer, or detect it early before it causes symptoms.
Colon Cancer Causes in Women
Like most cancers, colon cancer in men and women is likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. In the same way that sun exposure may damage the DNA of skin cells and lead to skin cancer, exposure of the colon mucosa to environmental factors — such as toxins in food — may cause genetic damage to cells that increase the risk for developing colorectal cancer.
Initially, this genetic damage may cause polyps, and as more damage occurs, the polyps may become cancerous. Some people with baseline genetic mutations are more prone to developing polyps and cancer. These include people with:
- Genetic disorders such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis
- Family history of colorectal cancer or advanced polyps before the age of 60, which may increase the risk compared with the average population
- Chronic inflammation such as in inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
Other risk factors include modifiable behaviors such as smoking, heavy alcohol use, physical inactivity, excess body weight and a diet high in red or processed meats and low in fiber-rich foods, which may help prevent colon cancer.
Colon Cancer in Women: Do Risks Differ From Men?
Some factors that put women at risk for developing colon cancer are different from those for men. That’s why it’s particularly important for women, especially those over 50, to take steps to lower their risks. Among them:
- Pay attention to symptoms, such as anemia, fatigue or vague abdominal symptoms.
- Know your family history, and consider genetic counseling or frequent, earlier screening — with a colonoscopy or stool-based or blood tests — if you have a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer.
- Be physically active, aiming for at least 150-300 minutes of moderate activity weekly, including strengthening and cardio exercises.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a healthy diet, avoiding ultra-processed foods and meats and choosing vegetables, fruit, lean protein, complex carbs, fiber and good fats.
- Eliminate or reduce alcohol consumption.
- Adopt a preventive mindset by combining healthy lifestyle changes with cancer screening, and make your own health a priority.
It’s also worth noting that men, on average, have a slightly higher lifetime risk for developing colorectal cancer than women. Current estimates from the American Cancer Society are 1 in 24 for men versus 1 in 26 for women . But women are more likely to have tumors or precancers on the right side of the colon, which may be harder to detect and may come with iron-deficiency anemia rather than obvious bleeding.
Interval cancer — or colon cancer that develops after a colonoscopy cleared the colon — is also most common on the right side in women over the age of 60, since it often develops in polyps that are difficult to detect.
So, even if you were told you don’t need a colonoscopy for another five or 10 years, if you develop new-onset iron deficiency or new concerning symptoms such as bleeding, a colonoscopy is often needed to determine whether right-sided colon cancer might have occurred, developing in a polyp that is difficult to detect.
If you or a loved one is concerned about possible signs or symptoms of cancer and would like an initial appointment or a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-460-4673.