Oldham doctor issues womb cancer warning

Give Oldham women all the ingredients to eat a better diet and they will reduce their chances of contracting one of the deadliest cancers in the world.

That is the message from Chadderton GP and Women’s Health specialist Dr Anita Sharma, who says new statistics released by Cancer Research showing that uterine cancer could be halved by better nutrition ought to result in a borough-wide plan to eat better.

“Type two diabetes, heart conditions and strokes have long been equated with poor diet, but this commanding survey shows a definitive link with womb cancer,” said Dr Sharma.

"But changing this situation is not just about encouraging individuals to eat healthier portions of fruit and vegetables.

"It is a challenge for all of us and will take a whole societal approach to solve.”

Beating obesity, says Dr Sharma, can only be achieved by:

• Tackling the mental health problems that lie behind everything from comfort eating to bulimia

• Providing affordable nutritious food especially in disadvantaged areas, with councils cracking down on granting licenses to vendors selling junk food

• Encouraging, rather than stigmatising, the individual to eat better and,

• Taking greater personal responsibility for your own health – including counting those calories and maintaining a healthy weight, ideally a body mass index (BMI) less than 25.

Dr Sharma also asked that pioneering classes on nutrition plus women-only gym sessions for BAME women, be extended.

She admits, though, that one of the biggest factors in creating obesity will be the hardest to cure – namely, poverty.

Dr Sharma added: “There is a direct correlation between disadvantage and morbid obesity.

"As a GP, I see this in patients every day.

"Debt, unemployment and a lack of hope all lead to problems such as depression and responses such as drinking, smoking and comfort eating.

“What a twisted state of affairs it is too, that the food that is good for you is considerable dearer than the fodder full of fats, salt and sugar.”

Womb cancer is the fourth most prevalent cancer in females in the UK.

There are close-on 10,000 new cases each year, with around 2,500 deaths recorded per annum.

It occurs most after the age of 50.

Seventy-seven per cent of sufferers now survive for five years or more after treatment, compared to 61 per cent in the early 1970’s.

But the figures also showed a dramatic rise in the number of women diagnosed.

Catching it early is a must and the only known weapons in preventing it, are better diet and more exercise.

Dr Sharma concluded: “After the pandemic, I would have hoped we would take the issue of health more seriously both as individuals and as a nation.

"We cannot continually rely on the NHS to fix us.

"Please see your GP urgently if you are having bleeding in between periods or after menopause, pelvic pain, painful sexual intercourse, unexpected weight loss, family history of uterine cancer, Type 2 diabetes and past history of any cancer.

"As with so many health issues that affect women only, awareness of womb cancer simply isn’t strong enough.

"Even if we can all just think about what is on our plate and help those determined to change their diet for the better, that would be a start.”

Dr Anita Sharma is the founder of charity Endometriosis Awareness North.

Visit their website here

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