Colon cancer begins with a small tumor or abnormal growth of cells that develops in the rectum. These are benign at first and soon develop to be cancerous over time. With proper screening and treatment, you can detect colon cancer and remove it from your body.
Most cases of colon cancer are found in senior adults after the age of 40. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer found and the death rates are too high to count. In this blog, we are going to talk about the early warning signs of colon cancer in women and several ways to treat them.
Look Out For These Signs For Colon Cancer In Women
Although colon cancer is mostly found in men, it is a grave risk to women. It is very important to spread awareness about colon cancer, its symptoms, and strategies to prevent this cancer. You can look out for the warning signs if you experience:
👉 Blood In Stools
The first alarming sign of colon cancer that should not be neglected. When you see bright red or dark red color in your poop or after wiping your tushy, then there is something wrong with your colon. It can be anal tears or hemorrhoids, but it’s always best to get it checked if you experience this more than twice a week.
👉 Changes In Bowel Movement
When you notice that you do not poop like you used to do, this can also indicate an early sign of colon cancer. Be it the firm, liquidy, smelly, or hard stool. If there is no consistency in your stool even after eating healthy food, then you might be having issues in your small intestines or rectum.
👉 Unexplained Weight Loss
Many individuals lose weight because of diarrhea or constipation. These are the underlying signs that point toward colon cancer or weak digestion. You may also be vomiting a lot because of the loss of blood in your system. Fatigue and nausea are also a part of these symptoms.
👉 Bloating And Abdominal Pain
While there is blood loss in your system, you may feel full and lose your appetite. It may feel like you need to poop again even after you did a while ago. This may make you feel bloated and you may also have abdominal pain. Treating them with temporary medications is not enough, you need to undergo tests for colon cancer or any other underlying conditions.
Treatment Of Colon Cancer
Cancer is a disease that still has an upper hand even after the advancement of medical science and technology. There is no cure for it yet, but there are ways to treat and manage cancer. Colon Cancer has been categorized from Stage 0 to Stage IVC. With multiple tests and screening your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose the stage of colon cancer and the treatment.
👉 Chemotherapy
This is the first treatment that comes into the mind while diagnosing cancer. It includes chemotherapy drugs that will shrink the tumor in your colon and then ease the symptoms. This can either be done before or after surgery where it ensures that the cancer cells are eliminated from the cells.
👉 Surgery
This is a complicated and invasive treatment for colon cancer. Depending on the size and spread of the tumor, your healthcare provider will derive a plan to either remove just the tumor or adjoining cells around it. This treatment also involves removing a section of the colon and resecting it with colostomy.
👉 Radiation Therapy
When an individual is not fit for the surgery, healthcare providers usually recommend radiation therapy to them. In this treatment, the colon is exposed to high-beam energies which kill the cancer cells. Radiation ablation can also be used during the surgery. This process is repeated in multiple seats till the symptoms of colon cancer are reduced to zero.
👉 Targeted Drug Therapy
Another non-invasive therapy that kills cancer cells with the help of drugs. These drugs are designed to multiply the cancer cells and the lab-created antibodies attach themselves to these cells. With the antibodies on patrol, all the cancer cells are killed within the organ until there are no more cancerous cells left to destroy.
Conclusion
Colon cancer symptoms in women include persistent changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, weakness, and unexplained weight loss. While many symptoms mirror other conditions, it’s critical to consult a doctor, especially if over 50.
Getting regular colon cancer screenings can detect tumors early when they are most treatable. While scary, catching colon cancer in initial stages greatly improves survival rates. Speak with your provider right away if experiencing any unusual or prolonged digestive issues.
