Colon Cancer: What Women Need to Know

Health and Wellness,Colorectal Care,Women's Health

Colon Cancer: What Women Need to Know

05.10.2021 | 3 min read

Amy Barczy is a former brand journalist who authored content at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Prior to her time at Blue Cross from 2019-2024, she was a statewide news reporter for MLive.com. She has a decade of storytelling experience in local news media markets including Lansing, Grand Rapids, Holland, Ann Arbor and Port Huron.

Indian mother and daughter cook in the kitchen

Cancers of the colon and rectum are the third most common cancer for both men and women – but for women, recognizing signs of cancer may be more difficult.

While colon cancer continues to affect men at higher rates than women, women’s natural menstruation cycles may bring symptoms that overlap some of the symptoms of colon cancer. Here are two symptoms that women may overlook as signs of colon cancer:

Feeling tired or lacking energy

Many women are used to the feeling of exhaustion that comes with their menstrual cycle during PMS. Feeling tired may also be a symptom of anemia, which some women experience if they lose a lot of blood during their period. But feeling unusually fatigued can also be a sign of colon cancer. It’s time to talk to your doctor if you notice new feelings of fatigue related to your menstrual cycle, or if you find you’re unusually tired at a time not related to your cycle.

Abdominal cramps

Cramps are the typical sign it’s that time of the month and could also signal endometriosis in some women. But abdominal cramps are also a sign of colon cancer. Talk to your doctor if you feel cramps that aren’t in your normal pattern surrounding your cycle. In general, symptoms of colon cancer are the same for men and women. In the early stages, there may be no symptoms at all. Here are some common symptoms:

Abdominal pain or cramps
Blood in stool or rectal bleeding
Changes in bowel habits including constipation and diarrhea
Fatigue, weakness, or reduced energy
Feeling that your bowel hasn’t emptied completely
Unexplained weight loss

Women and men share the same risk factors for colon cancer, including increased age, a personal history of polyps, family history of colon cancer or polyps, radiation treatment, obesity and a lifestyle that is sedentary and includes smoking and excessive drinking.

Once a woman goes through menopause, risks for all cancer increase. However, some experts advise that the hormone replacement therapy treatment used to manage symptoms of menopause is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer.

Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy to see if it’s a good fit for you. At age 45, it’s time to get your first colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer – unless your doctor recommends getting a screening test earlier due to heightened risk factors.

Localized colon cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the colon or rectum has a five-year survival rate of 90%. The earlier colon cancer can be detected, the better.

Click here to learn more about colorectal cancer, screening and resources.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network cover colorectal screenings for most members beginning at age 45 to align with the recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. For more information, click here.