The fact that many of the women who come to us had never heard of womb cancer before they got their diagnosis shows just how little awareness there is out there of this cancer, despite it being the 4th most common female cancer and the number 1 gynaecological cancer.
In the past we have focussed much of our awareness raising around the signs and symptoms to be aware of and the risk factors involved but we need to get back to basics and look at ways of lessening a woman's risk of getting womb cancer and how women can do things to try and prevent getting womb cancer in the first place.
Knowing the risk factors is important but there will always be women who don't tick any of the boxes for risk factors and have none of the usual signs or symptoms associated with womb cancer yet still get diagnosed. So you should never assume that because you don't have any symptoms or any of the risk factors that you won't get womb cancer.
There are sadly still many women out there who believe that womb cancer only affects older women - this is often reinforced by the medical profession who tell young women who present with heavy bleeding that they are too young to get womb cancer. It can and does affect women of all ages - I am aware of at least 4 young ladies who were diagnosed in their very early 20's!
So, as we move on into October we are going to be looking at ways to try and lessen the risks involved and at how we can help and empower women with the knowledge they need to not allow womb cancer into their lives.
xx Kaz xx