Symptoms colon cancer women
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Symptoms of Colon Cancer in Women
Common Symptoms of Colon Cancer in Women
Colon cancer in women often presents with a variety of symptoms that can be both specific and non-specific. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and rectal bleeding . These symptoms are frequently mistaken for less serious conditions, especially during pregnancy, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment .
Symptoms During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can mask the symptoms of colon cancer, making early detection challenging. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and altered bowel movements are often attributed to normal pregnancy-related changes rather than malignancy . This misattribution can result in a delayed diagnosis, which is a significant factor in the poor prognosis associated with colon cancer during pregnancy .
Long-Term Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Survivors
Female survivors of colorectal cancer often experience persistent gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms long after treatment. These symptoms include bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal or pelvic pain. Factors such as time since diagnosis, advanced cancer stage, psychological distress, poor dietary habits, and low physical activity can increase the risk and severity of these symptoms. Persistent GI symptoms significantly impact the quality of life, leading to increased daily life interferences and low body image satisfaction.
Specific vs. Non-Specific Symptoms
Specific symptoms of colon cancer, such as rectal bleeding, have a high specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) for the disease . However, non-specific symptoms like tiredness and abdominal pain are more common but less indicative of colon cancer . The combination of specific and non-specific symptoms can increase the likelihood of seeking medical evaluation, but the overall proportion of general practitioner (GP) contacts remains low.
Emergency Diagnoses and Benign Misdiagnoses
Women are more likely than men to receive an emergency diagnosis of colon cancer, often due to the attribution of symptoms to benign conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or diverticular disease. Alarm symptoms such as anemia and rectal bleeding are sometimes present months before an emergency diagnosis, offering opportunities for earlier detection. Innovative diagnostic strategies, including quantitative fecal hemoglobin testing, may help reduce the rate of emergency diagnoses in women.
Conclusion
Colon cancer in women presents with a range of symptoms that can be easily mistaken for less serious conditions, particularly during pregnancy. Persistent GI symptoms are common among survivors and significantly impact their quality of life. Early recognition and appropriate evaluation of symptoms, especially in pregnant women, are crucial for improving prognosis and reducing emergency diagnoses.
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