Actress and former Strictly Come Dancing star Alex Kingston, 62, has revealed her battle with womb cancer, urging women to be aware of the symptoms. The disease, also known as endometrial or uterine cancer, has seen cases rise by 50 per cent over the past 20 years in the UK, yet many women remain unaware of the warning signs.
Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the UK, affecting around 9,700 people annually, according to The Eve Appeal. The main symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding, including any unexpected bleeding after menopause or between periods. Consultant gynaecologist Ms Sangeeta Khinder stresses that prolonged or heavier periods should also be investigated.
Other symptoms include abnormal vaginal discharge, especially during menopause, which may be blood-stained or appear pink or brown. The Eve Appeal emphasises that cervical screening does not detect womb cancer, so any symptoms should be checked regardless of screening results.
Risk factors include obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), oestrogen-only HRT, diabetes, and a family history of uterine or colorectal cancer. Most cases occur in women aged 75 to 79, but the lifetime risk is 1 in 100, with peak incidence after menopause in the 50s and 60s.
Diagnosis typically involves a pelvic exam, transvaginal ultrasound, and biopsy. A new, less invasive test called WID-easy, approved by the MHRA, uses a simple swab to detect DNA changes and is available in private clinics for women over 45 with abnormal bleeding. The most common treatment is a hysterectomy, often performed as a keyhole procedure for early-stage cancers.
