Cervical smear tests 'could also detect ovarian and womb cancer'

Thursday 10 January 2013

DNA from cervical screening samples could also be used to detect ovarian and womb (endometrial) cancers, according to preliminary US research.

Cervical screening uses a test called cytology, which most people know as the 'smear test'. Cytology involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix with a small brush.

Scientists from John Hopkins Medical Institutes extended the DNA testing already used as part of the screening programme to look for changes relating specifically to womb and ovarian cancer from cells that had trickled down to the cervix.

The test identified all of 24 women who had subsequently developed womb cancer, and nine out of 22 women who had gone on to develop ovarian cancer.

Despite the lower detection rate, the researchers propose that such a test could be most useful for women with ovarian cancer, since the disease is difficult to diagnose early and so is often harder to treat.

And womb cancer already tends to be detected earlier than ovarian cancer as a result of more obvious symptoms such as vaginal bleeding.

Importantly, no healthy samples were wrongly identified as having cancer- so called 'false-positive' results.

Dr Jacqui Shaw, a Cancer Research UK grant holder from the University of Leicester, said: "This is an exciting early study. It suggests that the national cervical screening programme could one day be expanded to test for ovarian and womb cancers too.

"The idea of testing women's cervical screening samples for DNA from ovarian and womb cancers is clever, and this small study shows this may be possible in the future.

But she cautioned further research is needed: "The next step is to carry out larger studies that can better measure how accurately such DNA tests could detect these cancers".

"It will also be interesting to see whether expanding the number of genes analysed could make the test more accurate, especially for detecting ovarian cancer, which is notoriously difficult to diagnose early, " she added.

Copyright Press Association 2013

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

First figures help set the standard for gynaecological cancer surgery

Monday 5 November 2012

Cancer Research UK Press Release

The first UK multicentre figures showing that one in five women having major gynaecological cancer surgery have some sort of complication will help set standards in the NHS, according to research presented at the NCRI Cancer Conference today.

The initial findings of the UK Gynaecological Oncology Surgical Outcomes and Complications (UKGOSOC) audit also reveal that one in 30 women experience a serious complication, which may need another operation or procedure.

The detailed and verified figures come from an interim analysis of more than 1,600 operations carried out across 10 centres in the UK between April 2010 and July 2011. The final results from the full audit, covering the outcomes of around 3,000 operations, will be released later this year.

Surgeons entered details about each patient’s general health, the complexity of their operation and any complications encountered into online computer records. This meant that information about complications could be entered directly from the operating theatre or from the wards if they occurred after surgery. The UKGOSOC audit also sent patients a follow up card 6-8 weeks after surgery.

Understanding the complication rates will help set NHS benchmarking standards, allowing nationwide performance in this area of cancer treatment to be better understood. It will also help doctors to better advise patients on the full risks involved in their treatment decisions.

Professor Usha Menon, head of the Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre at UCL and lead author of the audit, said: “In contrast to the wealth of data regarding complication rates following chemotherapy and radiotherapy, there have been no multicentre figures on complication rates following surgery for gynaecological cancers. This has meant that we have been unable to properly counsel our patients in preparation for surgery.

“It’s hugely satisfying that we now have robust figures and, while complication rates of one in five may seem high, it’s similar to the only other comparable figure available from an Australian study. These numbers also need to be evaluated alongside the survival rates, which should be available in the near future.”

Dr Andy Nordin, a consultant gynaecological oncologist and co-author of the audit, said: “This work is giving us a complete picture of each patient’s treatment, from the operating theatre to eight weeks after they’ve been discharged. In addition to the complication rates, it provides other key information, including details of patients' medical history along with the complexity of their operation.

“We hope to see this electronic data collection process brought into routine practice to improve the information collected by the NHS and to help us to continue to improve surgical outcomes in the UK. The findings, along with the hard work involved in data collection, may well prove useful in other countries too.”

Dr Jane Cope, director of the NCRI, said: “All surgery carries risks and it’s important that patients know that there may be complications during and after their operations. Setting nationwide benchmarks will be an important step in helping doctors and patients better understand the effectiveness of current treatment. Doctors and surgeons can then go on to develop improvements, which will give better outcomes for the patients of the future.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact the press office on 020 3469 8300 or, out-of-hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264 059.

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Womb cancer deaths rise by a fifth in the last decade

Thursday 5 April 2012

Cancer Research UK Press Release

Deaths from womb (uterine) cancer have risen by nearly twenty per cent in the last decade, according to new figures from Cancer Research UK today.

Since the late 1990s, the mortality rate has risen from 3.1 to 3.7 per 100,000 in the UK. This means more than 1,900 women are now dying from the disease each year, compared to fewer than 1,500 at the turn of the millennium.

But survival rates from womb cancer continue to improve – with 77 per cent of women now surviving their disease five years or more.

The rise in deaths follows a steep increase in the number of women being diagnosed with womb cancer, with incidence rising by 43 per cent since the mid 1990s, from 13.7 to 19.6 per 100,000.

Prior to this, incidence of womb cancer had been constant for at least 25 years, and mortality had been declining.

Obesity at least doubles the risk of womb cancer, and has been linked to many other cancer types, leading experts to believe it could be a key factor driving up incidence.

So although survival from womb cancer continues to improve gradually, more women are in fact dying from the disease, because of the recent rise in numbers of women being diagnosed.

Professor Jonathan Ledermann, Cancer Research UK's gynaecological cancer expert, said: “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. 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. It’s clear we’re making great progress, but we don’t yet fully understand what’s driving up cases of womb cancer, so there’s still lots more to do.”

Londoner Sharon Robinson, 56, who is a womb cancer survivor, said: “When I first had bleeding I thought it might be something to do with the menopause, but then it became more serious and I went to my doctor. Being told I had cancer was terrifying, as I knew it meant having my womb removed followed by weeks of radiotherapy. But in the end it was all worth it because here I am today cancer free. It’s so important that women who have symptoms like bleeding after the menopause go to their doctor without delay, as spotting cancer early save lives.”

Sara Hiom, director of information at Cancer Research UK, said: “Despite survival rates continuing to improve, these worrying figures show more women are still dying from womb cancer. This appears to be related to a rise in the incidence of womb cancer, so it’s essential women receive support to help them reduce their risk.

“Maintaining a healthy bodyweight can halve a woman’s risk of womb cancer and is one of the best ways to protect against the disease. Women should also be aware of the symptoms of womb cancer which include abnormal vaginal bleeding – especially for post-menopausal women - abdominal pain and pain during sex.

“Although these symptoms don’t usually mean cancer, as they could be signs of more common conditions like fibroids or endometriosis, it’s still vital to get them checked by a doctor. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more likely treatment will be successful.”

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 3469 8300 or, out of hours, 07050 264 059.

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

First womb cancer genome scan reveals prostate cancer link

Monday 18 April 2011

Cancer Research UK Press Release

Scientists have carried out the first ever genome scan for womb cancer and discovered a genetic region that reduces risk of the disease, according to a study published in Nature Genetics today (Sunday).

In men a gene within the same region - called HNF1B - has previously been linked to lower prostate cancer risk, but higher risk of type-2 diabetes.

The study – funded by Cancer Research UK, the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia and the Wellcome Trust** – is the first to find a genetic link between these two different cancer types.

Women with the protective ‘version’ of the gene are on average 15-18 per cent less likely to develop womb cancer, while men with the same version are 21 per cent less likely to develop prostate cancer. It has also been linked to a 10-14 per cent greater risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Lead author Professor Douglas Easton, director of Cancer Research UK’s Genetic Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, said: “This study is the first to highlight a potential link between womb cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, providing new insight into the underlying genes and mechanisms that lead to the development of both diseases.

“Understanding how these influence a person’s risk of developing cancer is a crucial step in being able to identify high risk groups who may benefit from closer monitoring or measures to reduce their risk of developing the disease.”

In the hunt for genes linked to womb cancer, the researchers began by scanning the genomes of 1,265 womb cancer patents and comparing them to the genomes of 5,190 women who didn’t have the disease.

This allowed them to pinpoint a total of 47 different one-letter alterations in the genetic code – known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) – where genes linked to womb cancer were most likely to be found.

They then narrowed down their search by looking specifically at these regions in a further 3,957 patients with womb cancer and 6,886 without the disease.

This left just three SNPs that were shown to be significantly linked to a decreased risk of womb cancer, all of which overlapped with the gene HNF1B on chromosome 17.

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: “This is only the second common genetic region to have been linked to the development of womb cancer.

“With faster, cheaper genome technologies now becoming available, we are on the cusp of being able to carry out powerful genome studies involving much larger groups of people. This will allow scientists to pinpoint subtler associations helping to build a more complete picture of how genes influence a person’s risk of developing womb cancer. Ultimately this will pave the way for more targeted approaches to treating and diagnosing the disease.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 3469 8300 or, out-of-hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264 059.

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Deprived cancer patients face fatal health problems

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Cancer Research UK Press Release

CANCER patients from deprived backgrounds are more likely to develop life-threatening health problems, research published today (Wednesday) in the British Journal of Cancer* shows.

The study** found that less affluent patients are 50 per cent more likely to develop at least one serious illness like heart disease, tuberculosis, dementia or diabetes, which could reduce their chance of recovering from cancer.

The research looked at over 72,000 patients with 14 different types of cancer*** between 1997 and 2006. The results showed that the likelihood of one-year survival for poorer patients was significantly worse than those who were well-off.

Scientists claimed this was the first large study to show how a cancer patient's background affected their chances of developing other illnesses and could impact their survival.

Dr Marieke WJ Louwman, one of the study authors based at the Eindhoven Cancer Registry in The Netherlands, said: "Remarkably, we found that additional health disorders were common in patients from a lower socioeconomic background for every cancer type."

The study outlined possible explanations for increased health problems among poorer cancer patients. Previous research has shown that smoking is a likely cause for the higher risk of heart disease.

This was confirmed by the high number of cases of the disease among patients with smoking-related cancers like lung, stomach, bladder and kidney.

Cancers like pancreatic, breast, womb and bowel have been linked to diabetes which can be triggered by obesity. Previous evidence has shown that obesity is more common among those from a low socioeconomic background.

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "It's worrying to see that survival is considerably worse for deprived patients - this research stresses the need to close the gap between rich and poor in health.

"The results of this study suggest that the causes of the types of cancer and the health problems common among poorer cancer patients are likely to be down to lifestyle.

"More work needs to be done to raise awareness in economically-deprived areas about the risks of smoking and obesity and the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise."

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Angela Balakrishnan on 020 3469 8311 or, out-of-hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264 059.

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Small study suggests contraceptive IUDs may delay womb cancer

Thursday 30 September 2010

Contraceptive intrauterine devices (IUDs) - the coil - may be effective at treating early-stage cancers of the endometrium (womb lining), a small clinical trial performed in Italy suggests.

Endometrial cancer starts in the lining of the womb and is the most common type of womb cancer.

New research, published in the Annals of Oncology, suggests that the coil could be used to delay the progression of the disease, giving women with early endometrial cancer the chance to have a family before undergoing a hysterectomy to permanently remove the cancerous tissue.

At present, the only way to delay hysterectomy in these patients is to give them hormone therapy, which slows down the growth of the cancer but can cause unwanted side-effects.

Scientists at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan carried out a clinical trial to see whether an IUD releasing the progestin hormone levonorgestrel, combined with a monthly injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for six months, helped to prevent further cancer growth.

Levonorgestrel prevents growth of the womb lining, while GnRH blocks the production of the hormone oestrogen, which can promote the development of endometrial cancer.

The researchers hoped that, by delivering levonorgestrel directly to the womb rather than in tablet form, the side-effects of the hormone therapy could be reduced.

Henry Scowcroft, Cancer Research UK's science information manager, said: "This is a very small pilot study and there are all sorts of hurdles to be overcome before we can know if this method could be used to treat women with womb cancer. We look forward to seeing the results of larger, more robust trials."

A total of 34 patients were included in their analysis, all of whom were aged 40 or younger and had been diagnosed with a precursor to endometrial cancer (called atypical endometrial hyperplasia or AEH) or the early stages of endometrial cancer that had not yet spread beyond the womb lining.

Participants were fitted with an IUD, which was left in place for a year. At this point, the IUDs were removed from women whose cancer had not continued to grow so that they could try for a pregnancy.

Women were followed up every six months to ensure their cancer had not returned.

Of the 20 patients with a precursor to endometrial cancer, 19 (95 per cent) responded to treatment with the IUD, although four later relapsed and had to be re-treated.

Of the 14 patients with early-stage endometrial cancer, eight (57.1 per cent) responded to treatment with the IUD, with four (28 per cent) showing signs of continued cancer growth. Of those who responded to treatment, two subsequently relapsed.

Eleven pregnancies were recorded in nine women following removal of their IUDs.

Study author Dr Lucas Minig, who is now based at the Hospital Universitario Madrid Sanchinarro, explained: "Using an IUD allows us to deliver a much higher dose of the hormone levonorgestrel to the endometrial surface than would be possible via a pill. It keeps concentrations of the hormone at a low level in the blood serum, thereby avoiding the many side-effects resulting from giving the drug via the systemic route.

"We think that treatment with levonorgestrel-releasing IUDs is ideally suited to young patients who may not want to have children immediately but would like to have the opportunity to have them in the future."

The researcher called for a large-scale clinical trial to verify the findings and determine the best course of treatment for women with endometrial cancers who wish to become pregnant in the future.

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Exercise reduces risk of developing womb cancer

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Cancer Research UK Press Release

Women who exercise and keep active are around 30 per cent less likely to develop womb cancer than couch potatoes - according to a new study published in the British Journal of Cancer today.

In a detailed review of the available evidence, scientists from the United States have found a strong link between the amount of exercise and physical activity women do and a lower risk of developing womb cancer.

In a separate study of 70,000 women they also found that sitting down for longer periods of time was associated with increased risk of the disease.

Dr Steven Moore, lead author of the study from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, said: “Physical activity is known to reduce risk for breast and colon cancer, and now our study has found that physical activity can reduce risk for womb cancer as well. We already knew that maintaining a healthy body weight is an important way to reduce the risk of womb cancer, but our study showed that physical activity has a protective effect of its own.”

“Interestingly, we also found a link between total time spent sitting and womb cancer. Spending less time sitting and more time on your feet may complement exercise as a way of preventing the disease.”

“Further research is needed to discover how different types, levels and amounts of physical activity affect a woman’s chance of developing the disease.”

Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women with more than 7,500 new cases diagnosed each year in the UK.

In the last 10 years – of the top 10 most common cancers in women – incidence rates for womb cancer have risen the second fastest, after malignant melanoma skin cancer.

Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s director of health information, said: “This new research provides clear evidence that the more active women are – and the less time they spend sitting down – the less likely they are to develop womb cancer. This may be because exercise and activity reduces levels of the sex hormone oestrogen. Overexposure to oestrogen can increase the risk of the disease. Keeping active and doing plenty of exercise as well as spending more time on your feet will help reduce the risk of womb cancer.

“All women should be aware of the symptoms of womb cancer which include abnormal vaginal bleeding – especially for post-menopausal women, abdominal pain and pain during sex. Although these symptoms don’t usually mean cancer, as they could be signs of other diseases like fibroids or endometriosis, it’s still vital to get them checked by a doctor. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more likely treatment will be successful.”

ENDS

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Womb cancer cases are highest for over three decades

Thursday 22 July 2010

Cancer Research UK Press Release

The number of women diagnosed with womb cancer is at its highest for over 30 years according to new figures published today by Cancer Research UK which show more than 7,530 people now* develop the disease each year in the UK.

Experts believe the reasons for the continuing rise in womb cancer include more women being overweight or obese and women having fewer or no children.

In 1975, 13 in every 100,000 women were diagnosed with womb cancer but over 30 years later the rates have risen to more than 19 women being diagnosed in every 100,000**.

The incidence rates of womb cancer peak in women aged 60-79. And these age groups have seen the largest increases with rates nearly doubling since 1975 – rising from around 40 women in every 100,000 to over 75 in every 100,000 in 2007.

Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer in UK women and in 2008 1,741 women died from the disease.

In the last 10 years – of the top 10 most common cancers in women – incidence rates for womb cancer have risen the second fastest, after malignant melanoma skin cancer.

Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s director of health information, said: “These figures show that we’re still seeing a year on year rise in the number of women diagnosed with womb cancer and more needs to be done to tackle this. Women can reduce their risk of developing the disease by keeping a healthy weight and taking regular exercise.

“All women should be aware of the symptoms of womb cancer which include abnormal vaginal bleeding – especially for post-menopausal women, abdominal pain and pain during sex. Although these symptoms don’t usually mean cancer, as they could be signs of other diseases like fibroids or endometriosis, it’s still vital to get them checked by a doctor. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more likely treatment will be successful.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact the press office on 020 7061 8300 or, out-of-hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264 059.

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Aspirin may reduce cancer risk in people with Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC)

Tuesday 22 September 2009

UK scientists have discovered that a daily dose of aspirin may protect against cancer in people with Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC - also called Lynch syndrome) - an inherited condition that raises the risk of some forms of cancer.

Research presented at the European cancer congress ECCO 15 - ESMO 34 in Berlin found that regular aspirin use halved the risk of both bowel and womb cancers in people with the condition.

HNPCC is caused by an inherited faulty gene that increases their risk of various cancers. It is thought to be associated with around five per cent of cases of bowel cancer.

The Newcastle-based researchers studied 1,071 people from 16 countries, all of whom carried the HNPCC gene fault.

Participants either took 600mg of aspirin per day or a placebo (dummy treatment).

After 29 months, the researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in December 2008 that neither treatment had had any effect on whether or not patients developed cancer.

However, they continued to follow the patients and have since started to notice a trend.

Of the 52 participants who have developed bowel cancer so far, just 17 were taking aspirin, compared with 35 who were not.

Womb cancer was also less common in people who were taking aspirin.

In addition, of the six participants who developed multiple cancers, five were in the placebo group.

Dr John Burn, medical director and head of the Institute of Human Genetics at Newcastle University, who led the study, commented: "Bearing in mind these people almost certainly already had their cancer when they started the trial, there is a significant impact beyond two years."

The researchers concluded that people with HNPCC who take two aspirin per day for three years may benefit from a significantly reduced risk of cancer for the next five years.

They now plan to carry out a similar study using lower doses of aspirin to see whether patients could benefit from the drug's cancer-protective effects without suffering common side-effects associated with long-term aspirin use, which include gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding.

Henry Scowcroft, Cancer Research UK's science information manager, commented: "This is an exciting study providing strong evidence that taking aspirin reduces the risk of bowel cancer in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease.

"But this doesn't mean that everyone should start taking aspirin if they're worried about bowel cancer - aspirin can cause significant side-effects if not used as directed by a doctor.

"If you're concerned about bowel cancer you should make sure you take up opportunities for screening when invited, and your first port of call should always be your GP if you notice any persistent changes or symptoms that aren't normal for you."

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Doctors trial the coil to prevent womb cancer

Tuesday 10 June 2008

Cancer Research UK Press Release

NEW research in Yorkhill Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary is investigating whether a form of the contraceptive coil can stop women from developing womb cancer.

The Cancer Research UK funded clinical trial - named POET* - is examining whether an intra uterine system (IUS) or coil, that releases a hormone, can prevent cancer of the lining of the womb - endometrial cancer - in high-risk patients.

This particular type of coil, traditionally used for birth control, is inserted into the womb to release the hormone progestagen. One effect of this hormone is to reduce the thickness of the wall of the womb. It is this feature that scientists believe could be the key to reducing the rate of endometrial cancer in women who are at an inherited risk of the disease.

These women who have an inherited a condition called HNPCC** or Lynch syndrome, will be eligible for the trial.

Endometrial cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women in the UK, with most cases being diagnosed after the menopause. While two per cent of British women will develop endometrial cancer, the rate rises to 60 per cent for those women with HNPCC.

Scientists are now recruiting local women from around the Glasgow area aged between 35 and 65, who have HNPCC, to take part in the trial. This is part of a UK-wide trial that aims to recruit 220 women in all and will run for four years.

Each woman on the trial will undergo an examination including an ultrasound scan and biopsy of the womb. If these results are normal then the women will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will receive yearly monitoring, and the other group will receive yearly monitoring and be fitted with a coil called the Mirena IUS.

An annual ultrasound will be carried out in all the women to check for any signs of cancer and a questionnaire will be used to analyse the psychological effects of monitoring and the acceptability of the coil.

Dr Victoria Murday, local researcher at the Yorkhill Hospital, said: "We are uncertain how effective it is to screen for endometrial cancer in women at increased risk of the disease, so prevention is the key.

"Earlier research has provided evidence that Mirena IUS may reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, and we hope that this study can show that it has this effect for women at high risk, who otherwise might opt for hysterectomy."

The research is a collaboration between Queen Mary's University of London, St George's University of London and Cancer Research UK.

Kate Law, Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials director, said: "It’s vital that we continue to research prevention techniques like the one we are trialing in this study. We need to learn if we can offer those women at high risk of womb cancer more options to help prevent the disease."

For more information about this trial please visit either the POET website or the Cancerhelp UK website. Alternatively, call our specialist nurses on 020 7061 8355.

Ends

For media enquiries please contact the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 7061 8300 or, out of hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264059.

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Cancer Research UK reassures women over acrylamide/cancer link

Tuesday 4 December 2007

Cancer Research UK moved to reassure women over a study suggesting that a common chemical caused by frying, roasting or grilling may be linked to ovarian and womb cancer.

The charity said that women should not be overly concerned as the study is the first to ever find evidence of a link between acrylamides and cancer and would need repeating before any conclusions could be drawn.

Acrylamide is produced when starchy foods are heated to high temperatures.

The study, which was carried out by researchers at Maastricht University, looked at the eating habits of 120,000 people, half of whom were female.

Volunteers were required to provide details on how much acrylamide-containing food - such as crisps or chips - they ate, and researchers then estimated their average intake.

The findings, which are published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, suggest that women who eat 40 micrograms of acrylamide per day - the amount contained in a portion of chips or half a pack of biscuits - double their risk of womb and ovarian cancer.

Acrylamides have been the subject of controversy since a Swedish study in 2002 reported that many foods contain high levels.

The chemical is known to damage DNA, but a number of recent studies have concluded that the amounts contained in food are too low to significantly increase the risk of cancer.

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, commented: "Women shouldn't be unduly worried by this news. As the authors point out, this is the first time a link between acrylamide and womb and ovarian cancer has been suggested, and further studies are needed to confirm this finding.

"It's not easy to separate out one component of the diet from all the others when studying the complex diets of ordinary people.

"And as acrlyamide levels are highest in carbohydrate containing foods, such as chips and crisps, other factors need to be firmly ruled out - especially being overweight or obese, which we know is strongly linked to womb cancer and probably linked to ovarian cancer."

Dr Walker concluded: "The best dietary advice for reducing your risk of cancer is to eat a balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables and fibre, and low in fat."

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Cancer risks for overweight women

Wednesday 7 November 2007

Cancer Research UK Press Release

Half of all cases of womb cancer and a type of oesophageal cancer in women are caused by being overweight or obese, according to a new report published online in the British Medical Journal today (Wednesday).

This study provides the first reliable evidence on the relevance of being overweight or obese for a wide range of cancers in women in the UK today.

Its findings suggest that among middle aged and older women in the UK, around five percent of all cancers, that is 6000 cancers each year, are caused by being overweight or obese.

As well as pinpointing womb cancer and one type of oesophageal cancer as examples where being overweight or obese is a major risk factor, the study also finds that excess weight increases the risk of kidney cancer, leukaemia, multiple myeloma, pancreatic cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, ovarian cancer and, in some age-groups, breast and bowel cancer.

The Million Women Study, funded by Cancer Research UK, is the biggest study ever undertaken to look at women and cancer risk. Over one million UK women were studied during seven years. More than 45,000 cases of cancer and 17,000 cancer deaths occurred during that time.

Lead researcher Dr Gillian Reeves, Cancer Research UK epidemiologist based at Oxford University, said: “Based on our findings, we estimate that being overweight or obese accounts for around 6,000 out of a total 120,000 new cases of cancer each year among middle-aged and older women in the UK.

“Our research also shows that being overweight has a much bigger impact on the risk of some cancers than others. Two thirds of the additional 6000 cancers each year due to overweight or obesity would be cancers of the womb or breast.”

But the research found that the relationship between body mass index (BMI)* and cancer also depended on a woman’s stage of life. For example, being overweight increases the risk of breast cancer only after the menopause and the risk of bowel cancer only before the menopause.

Sara Hiom, director of Cancer Research UK's health information, said: “This research adds to the evidence regarding the impact of being overweight or obese on developing cancer and dying from the disease.

“While most people readily associate carrying extra weight with being a general health risk, many do not make a specific link with cancer. These findings need to be taken into consideration alongside the established strong relationships between body fatness and other common illnesses such as diabetes and heart attacks.”

Ends

For media enquiries contact the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 7061 8300, or the duty press officer, out of hours, on 07050 264059

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Waist size can increase womb cancer risk

Monday 19 February 2007

Cancer Research UK Press Release

The average British woman, who has a 34 inch waist, is more likely to develop womb cancer than her slimmer sisters.

Women with a waist measurement of more than 34 inches have nearly double the risk of womb cancer than women whose waist is 31 inches or less - according to a Cancer Research UK international study published* online today.

The risk of endometrial cancer (lining of the womb) is also almost doubled in women who have put on more than 44 pounds since the age of 20.

Obese women (those with a body mass index of 30 or more) also have almost double the risk of this kind of cancer compared to women of normal weight (those with a BMI between 19 and 25).

In each of these instances the risk of developing endometrial cancer increased by between 75-78 per cent according to the study. This equates to the risk increasing from one woman in 73 to one in 40.

The study, part-funded by Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council and published today by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) scientists, analysed data from 223,000 women in 10 European countries to conclude that obesity, abdominal fat and adult weight gain had a strong link to endometrial cancer risk.

The study also found that the link was particularly strong in postmenopausal women and those who had never taken hormone replacement therapy nor used the contraceptive pill.

Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK’s director of cancer information, said: “According to the National Sizing Survey conducted in 2004 the average British woman now has a 34 inch waist which is over six inches bigger than the average size of a woman in the 1950s when it was 27.5 inches.

"Today’s women are larger than they were when they existed on a wartime diet and were generally more active and this is having serious consequences for their health. The results of this study confirm that women carrying excess weight are much more likely to develop endometrial cancer than those women who are a normal weight."

*Cancer Causes and Control: Anthropometric Factors and Risk of Endometrial Cancer: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

Study author Professor Christine Friedenreich, of the Alberta Cancer Board in Canada, said: "This large study has provided very strong evidence that obesity and fat distribution increase endometrial cancer risk. It also found that there is a particularly strong risk among obese women who have never used hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives. This finding will need additional investigation in future studies to confirm this result"

Professor John Toy, medical director of Cancer Research UK, said: “While the general link between obesity and cancer is known, this study adds specific evidence that overweight women face a significantly increased risk of endometrial cancer.

"Cancer Research UK’s Reduce the Risk campaign aims to raise awareness of how we can all help to prevent cancer by improving our lifestyles. Keeping a healthy weight by eating a low-fat, high-fibre diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables and taking regular exercise is one way to combat cancer risk."

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Cancer Research UK press office on 020 7061 8300, or the out of hours’ duty press officer on 07050 264059

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Womb cancer patients could benefit from genetic screening

Thursday 10 August 2006

Women with cancer of the womb could benefit from screening for inherited genetic mutations that may increase their risk of other cancers, scientists have suggested.

The recommendation follows a study which revealed that around one in every 50 women diagnosed with cancer of the uterus has an inherited condition known as Lynch syndrome.

The inherited genetic disease, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, or HNPCC, can also increase the risk of bowel, ovarian and stomach cancers.

Cancer of the womb, or endometrial cancer, is the most common disease linked to the condition, said lead author, Professor Heather Hampel.

"It's important to identify women with one of these mutations because they have a very high risk for developing colon cancer, and they may not be aware of that risk," she said.

"Because this is hereditary, half of her siblings and children may also be at risk for the syndrome.

"For this reason, the relatives of a person with Lynch syndrome should also be screened for the responsible gene mutation."

The team recommended that relatives who have also inherited the condition should have an annual colonoscopy from the age of 25 and annual womb screens from 30.

The study was conducted by the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Centre and published in the journal Cancer Research.

Find out more about the causes of womb cancer

Find out more about HNPCC ('Lynch syndrome')

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel

Survival rates improving for cancer of the womb but its incidence climbs in the over 60s

Tuesday 7 February 2006

Cancer Research UK Press Release

Five-year survival rates for womb cancer* have risen to 77 per cent, an improvement of 16 per cent in the last 30 years.

But its incidence among women aged 60-79 has risen by 30 per cent in less than a decade - according to a report published today by Cancer Research UK**. The increasing numbers of women being diagnosed shows a need for greater awareness of the disease, its symptoms and the risk factors.

Cancer of the womb affects around 6,000 women in the UK each year - twice as many as cervical cancer - and accounts for four per cent of all female cancers. It is the fifth most common cancer in women and is the second most common cancer of the female reproductive system, after ovarian cancer.

Although survival is improving and around three-quarters of women diagnosed with womb cancer are successfully treated, the disease still causes around 1,500 deaths a year. Five-year survival rates are as low as 25 per cent for women who present with advanced disease, and therefore early detection is crucial.

Over 90 per cent of womb cancers occur in women over the age of 50 and 75 per cent in women who have been through the menopause. In the 60-79 age group, incidence of womb cancer has climbed from 48 cases per 100,000 in 1993 to 63 in 2001. Awareness of the disease is low and consequently women may not be aware that vaginal bleeding after the menopause is a symptom of womb cancer.

The standard treatment for womb cancer is surgery in the form of a hysterectomy. For women with early stage disease, no further treatment is usually necessary, but women with more advanced disease also need radiotherapy.

Report author Lucy Boyd, a Cancer Research UK epidemiologist, said: “It’s encouraging to see that the incidence of womb cancer in the UK is among the lowest in Europe, but the rise in cases in older women is a concern.

“We feel it is vitally important to raise awareness of this disease and encourage women to look out for the early symptoms, which can include abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, bleeding after the menopause and less commonly, low pelvic pain. Survival rates would be even better if more women reported their symptoms to their doctor at an earlier stage.”

It is unclear exactly what causes womb cancer, but there are some things that are known to increase a woman’s risk. Overweight and obese women are twice as likely to develop womb cancer as women of a healthy weight. This is due to higher than normal exposure to the hormone oestrogen, the production of which is greater in overweight and obese women.

Other factors that increase risk include not having had children, late menopause and the drug tamoxifen, which is used to treat and prevent breast cancer.

Dr Lesley Walker, Director of Cancer Information at Cancer Research UK, said:

“The improved survival rates are a result of the advances that have been made in successfully treating this disease. However, it is also clear that even more lives would be saved if awareness of this disease were better.

”Cancer Research UK will strive to make more women aware of the symptoms and risk factors associated with womb cancer, and the options available to help women reduce their risk of the disease. Womb cancer in particular has the strongest links to obesity - a woman with a healthy bodyweight has half the risk an obese woman has of getting the disease.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Emma Gilgunn-Jones on 020 7061 8311 or, out-of-hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264 059.

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Evaluate the following expression to continue:
=  

  Cancel