Alarming Rise in Womb Cancer Deaths in UK

There has been a 20 per cent increase in the number of women dying from womb cancer in the past decade, according to recent research.

As per figures released by Cancer Research UK, since the start of the 21<sup>st century the total yearly deaths from womb cancer have gone up by 400 - from 1,500 to the current level 1,900.

Womb cancer has become the fourth common cancer in women. A high level of obesity in recent years seems to be the primary reason behind the diagnoses, suggest experts.

Prof Jonathan Ledermann, Cancer Research UK's gynaecological cancer expert says: "It's hugely troubling that more women are dying from womb cancer, but we shouldn't let this cloud the fact that the chances of surviving the disease are still better than ever," reported BBC News.

He adds: "This is due to better organisation of care for women's cancers and more widespread use of one-stop clinics for post-menopausal bleeding, as well as advances in the use of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy through clinical trials."

Although the overall survival rate has improved with 77 per cent of women now living at least five years after treatment, the death rate has gone up.

Incidence of womb cancer has risen 43 per cent since the mid 90's, from 13.7 to 19.6 for every 10,000 women in the UK.

But the disease can be avoided say the experts. Rachael Gormley, from the World Cancer Research Fund suggests: "Womb cancer is one of several types of cancer where there is strong evidence that obesity increases risk. Others include breast, bowel, oesophageal, pancreatic and kidney. As levels of obesity rise, we can expect the number of cancer cases to also increase. Taking steps to avoid becoming obese, such as eating a healthy diet and being active each day, is one of the most important things we can do to reduce risk of cancer," quoted BBC News.