Uterine cancer deaths on the rise

Deaths from uterine cancer have gone up by almost 18 percent in the last 10 years, according to the British charity Cancer Research UK. According to data that the charity reviewed, more women are being diagnosed with womb cancer, and on average they live longer following diagnosis. But more women are also dying from this cancer, which is worrying.

According to Cancer Research UK, rising obesity rates may be behind the surge in uterine cancer deaths. From the 1970s to 1996, the number of women diagnosed with uterine cancer remained around the same 13.7 at cases for every 100,000. Then, from 1996 to now, the rates went up to 19.6 in every 100,000, which is an increase of a whopping 43 percent! Cancer Research UK adds that survival rates have improved, with 77 percent of women diagnosed with this cancer now living at least five years after treatment.

But, the number of deaths has also gone up. Nearly 2,000 women died from uterine cancer in 2010, in the United Kingdom alone. Statistically, the death rate went up from 3.1 deaths in 100,000 to 3.7 in 100,000 women.

Professor Jonathan Ledermann from Cancer Research UK 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."

But, is there anything women can do to lower their chances of getting this dreadful type of cancer? There is, actually. many doctors commented that there is strong evidence that obesity increases the risk of uterine cancer. They urged women to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly and go on a weight loss mission if need be, among other reasons to decrease their risk of getting cancer.