One of cancers which is frequently diagnosed, is colon cancer or colorectal cancer, and also women are exposed like everyone else. In actual fact, colon cancer, the third most common female cancer among all cancer types all over the world, comes in third place. In case of colon cancer, which is anyhow for women and men, there are some peculiar factors as well as the specific factors and gender-sensitive considerations when it comes to women's risk factors, prevention, symptoms, and treatment.

Some of the primary risk factors for developing colon cancer apply equally to men and women, such as:

• Age is another important factor in the development of dementia. Age after 50 raises the risk even more.
• Colon cancer or polyp family history is considered as a risk factor in family.
• The opposite scenario is inflammatory bowel diseases of Crohn's or ulcerative colitis.
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Low-fiber, high-fat diet
• Obesity
• Alcohol and tobacco use

However, certain hormonal and reproductive factors can specifically influence a woman's colon cancer risk in the following ways 

Estrogen Exposure

The evidence demonstrates that it is the lifetime menstruation exposure that benefits from the increased estrogen levels from factors like menstruation occurring earlier than normal, menopause starting later, and hormone replacement therapy that accounts for the likelihood of a moderately increased colon cancer risk.

Pregnancy

Puzzlingly, women, who were pregnant, showed a slight decrease in the risk of colon cancer. The estravolochemestratic and metabolic variations and the reshaping of cells during pregnancy are hypothesized to provide protection against certain diseases.

Birth Control Pills

Continuous consumption of pills with estrogen and progesterone has a little effect in decreasing cancer in the large intestine.

Recognizing Colorectal Cancer Symptoms in Women

The best cancer hospital in Kolkata, opines that the detection symptoms of colorectal cancer usually coincide and become very similar between men and women at the situation when the illness just starts and may not evoke any noticeable symptoms. As a tumor grows, both sexes may experience:

• Change in bowel habits, runny/hard stool (diarrhea, constipation).
• Agonizing and constant pain or cramp changes in the abdomen.
• Bleeding caused by rectal bleeding or bloody stool.
• Unexplained anemia
• Weakness and fatigue

However, some research indicates women may be more likely to initially experience certain symptoms like:

Pelvic pain

The best cancer hospital in Bangalore. opines that women would need to talk to their doctor if they find these issues as they may be a sign of colon cancer requiring the doctor’s attention.

Screening and Prevention

Regular Colon Cancer Screening is very necessary for women and men alike and could help screen out some of the cancers during the identification and removal of polyps, which are precancerous growths. 

Screening guidelines now recommend:

Average risk: Start the screenings at age 45 through testing options like colonoscopies every 10 years or, FIT coming annual or any other DNA tests.

High risk: Those with a genetic background or multiple risk elements may require screening actions to be undertaken earlier and with more frequency

Women must also pay much attention to the factors of keeping their weight in a healthy range, engaging in physical activity, consumption of minimal alcohol, and an intake of high fruits, vegetables, and fiber; which in turn are effective in the prevention of colon cancer.

Unique Treatment Factors

On the whole, in the treatment of colon cancer, the approach will not be deterred at all due to men or women.  Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy may all be applied individually or combined in a particular situation. Surgery is the most common therapy, but can be less suitable for certain conditions.

However, some unique factors for women undergoing colon cancer treatment include:

Fertility Preservation

It is advisable for younger women suffering colon cancer to undergo fertility preservation measures, such as embryo freezing and egg harvesting before the treatment, should they have a desire to bear biological children in the future since chemo-therapy is known to interfere with fertility.

Hormone Therapy Interactions

Particularly, specific drug treatments of colon cancer may disrupt certain medications like anti-estrogens (breast cancer drugs) among women that might be used for other medical aspects.

Pregnancy Safety Considerations

If a female is diagnosed with colon cancer in pregnancy, therapy should be undertaken by specialists due to risks that can appear to a patient and an unborn child.

Body Image Impacts

Usually people can face certain problems such as weight gain, hair loss, chronic fatigue, diarrhea, and sexual side effects from colon cancer treatments, these problems might significantly influence some women's self-image and self-confidence besides the aggravated situation.

Support for Women

Female colon cancer patients might also deal with a combination of physical and emotional adversity due to specific gender challenges, family obligations, career requirements and societal duties.

In the context of women's health in the treatment of colon cancer oncologists should pursue an integrated approach that is aimed at each of the multiple components of the disease. For women with colorectal and other cancer types, patient support services, therapies and advocacy groups directed particularly at their condition are strongly needed as they can constitute an excellent means of relieving them.

Patients’ gender-specific needs to be dealt with in a sober and proactive manner as clear as communication between patient and health care team is another important factor besides high quality and compassionate care. With this expansion of awareness to these vital points, women can approach colon cancer with courage and abundant resources, which will create a feeling of empowerment.