Surprising symptoms of ‘overlooked’ cancer every woman must know – only 15% per cent survive if it’s caught late
An alarming number of women are unaware of the tell-tale signs of a deadly female cancer that kills thousands each year, new research has shown.
One in five women in the UK have never heard of womb cancer, while over a third wrongly believe the disease can be detected via smear tests.
That’s according to a new survey by charity Peaches Womb Cancer Trust, who have warned that women are dying because they don’t know which symptoms to watch out for.
According to Cath Kennedy, a clinical specialist at the trust, spotting the warning signs early is vital, due to the dramatic discrepancy in survival times between those diagnosed at early and late stages.
For instance, around 92 per cent of those spotted at stage one or two will live for at least five years, compared to just 15 per cent of women diagnosed at stage three or four, when the disease has spread.
‘We want more women to hear about womb cancer, know the signs and when to seek medical advice,’ said Ms Kennedy.
‘Any symptoms should be investigated by your GP or healthcare professional – don’t rely on the result of your last test.’
An alert issued by the charity highlighted the symptoms to watch out for.
Womb cancer affects around 9,7000 women every year in the UK. Nicknamed a silent killer, when the disease is diagnosed at later stages, only 15 per cent of women will survive. Peaches Trust wants to raise better awareness for the disease, so women can catch it early
The main symptom of womb cancer, also known as endometrial and uterine cancer, is abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially for women who have been through the menopause.
For post-menopausal women, this covers any vaginal bleeding, including spotting or discharge that is pink, red, or brown in colour and more watery than usual.
For those who have not yet reached this stage, heavier periods, bleeding between cycles and/or after sex, and abnormal vaginal discharge may all be signs of womb cancer.
Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, a swollen tummy, bloating, a change in bowel or bladder habits and a new cough.
According to Peaches Trust, while many conditions, such as endometrioses, can cause these symptoms, it is important to get checked for cancer by doctors.
Ms Kennedy added that while very occasionally, abnormal cells picked up by a smear test can indicate the possibility of womb cancer, a normal cervical screening result does not rule out womb cancer.
Around 9,800 women are diagnosed with womb cancer in the UK each year, which is the equivalent of 27 people every single day.
Last year, former Eastenders actor Cheryl Fergison, who played Heather Trott in the soap, revealed she was diagnosed with the disease in 2015, but kept it a secret for nine years.
By watching out for these silent symptoms of womb cancer, more women will hopefully be able to get a diagnosis earlier, potentially saving lives
Her symptoms were back and vaginal bleeding, which she knew ‘wasn’t normal’.
She told Ok! Magazine: ‘There were some dark moments, especially at night, when I thought, ‘Am I going to die? Am I going to leave my husband without a wife, my son without a mum?’
‘But the time is right to talk about it all now. I’m hoping my story might empower other women.’
Common treatment options for the disease include surgery, with most women opting to get their womb removed to stop the cancer from spreading—known as a hysterectomy.
However, the extent of the operation will depend on how far the cancer has spread, with doctors sometimes unable to diagnose an exact stage until after the procedure.
During surgery, surgeons will examine the organs around the womb to see if there are any signs of spread.
Some women will end up having their womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries removed.
If the cancer has spread, some patients may need to have a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to remove as much of the cancer as possible.
An analysis has shown the years of life an average cancer patient in the UK is expected to lose, the amount of life lost in terms of all cancers has increased to 14.1 from 13.4 in the 1980s
Gynaecological cancers—including ovarian, cervical, womb, vaginal and vulval—kill 21 women every day on average, or 8,000 women a year.
These cancers start in a woman’s reproductive system and can affect women of any age, though they are more common in women over 50, especially those who have gone through the menopause.
Cervical cancer, found anywhere in the cervix—the opening between the vagina and the womb (uterus)—however is most common in women aged between 30 and 35.
On average, two women in the UK die every day from the disease, dubbed a silent killer because its symptoms can be easily overlooked for a less serious condition.
Currently women aged 25 to 49 in the UK are invited for a cervical screening check at their GP surgery every three years.
