Uterine cancer survival rates rise

The survival rates for uterine cancer among Irish women is improving, a new review has found.

Published by the Women’s Health Council, the fact sheet shows that there was an increase in the number of deaths from the disease from 62 in 2005 to 87 in 2006, but a decrease since then is expected to continue over the next several years.

The paper found the five-year survival rate has increased from 72.9 per cent for women diagnosed between 1995 and1999, to 74.1 per cent for women diagnosed in the time period covering 2000 to 2004.

It found the survival rate depended on a number of factors, including how advanced the disease was at diagnosis, and the age of the sufferer.

Those diagnosed at an early stage have an 82 per cent chance of surviving beyond five years, while those suffering an advanced stage of cancer have only a 32 per cent chance.

Meanwhile, women who are diagnosed with the disease between the age of 15 and 49 have a 79.2 per cent survival rate after five years. This climbs to 80.6 per cent among those aged 50 to 69, but falls to 62 per cent among women aged 70 and older.

Uterine cancer is the sixth-most common cancer among women in Ireland. The number of women diagnosed with the disease has increased over recent years. The highest number was seen in 2005, when 302 women were diagnosed with cancer of the womb. This fell to 291 women in 2006.

The Women’s Health Council said raising awareness of the symptoms would give women a better chance of being diagnosed at an earlier stage.

“Advances in cancer treatment are constantly being made. This review summarises the most recent evidence on the effectiveness of treatments that offer improved survival and cure rates, and a better quality of life for women,” said Geraldine Luddy, director of the Women’s Health Council.

“However, it is important that people know that some treatments are only effective depending on the type of cancer and the woman’s individual profile.”

The fact sheet, which includes symptoms and treatments for uterine cancer, can be found at http://www.whc.ie/documents/28_WHC_Uterine.pdf