During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we at CIRCE want to highlight an important message: colorectal cancer is not only a men’s disease.
In Sweden, colon cancer has increased about twice as fast in women as in men over recent decades. Researchers are also seeing rising rectal cancer rates among younger women. This is a reminder that prevention, early detection, and equitable access to care must remain a priority.
At CIRCE – Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Cancer and Equity in Women – we study how biological, social, and structural factors shape cancer risk, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship in women.
If you receive an invitation for screening, please participate. Screening can detect cancer early, often before symptoms appear.
And if you notice symptoms that do not go away, such as blood in the stool or changes in bowel habits, do not wait to seek medical advice.
Sources: Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare / Swedish Cancer Register