West Norwood event dispels myths and raises awareness on womb cancer
Last week, Lambeth’s Hills, Brook and Dale Primary Care Network and the Eve Appeal welcomed local residents to an open discussion and workshop on womb cancer at Goodwin Hall in West Norwood. This workshop is part of a series organised across south east London by South East London Cancer Alliance (SELCA), promoting screening for womb cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer.
As 30 plus workshop participants arrived in the space, it was clear another aim– to build connections and relationships between local residents with shared experiences – was underway.
Karen Hobbs of The Eve Appeal opened the workshop, running participants through the key causes and symptoms of womb cancer, such as abnormal bleeding, and letting workshop attendees know when and how to seek further support. Discussion then opened up among the group, with many sharing their own personal experiences of womb cancer, polyps and similar.
One myth discussed and dispelled was the belief that a one-off period can occur after the menopause. Karen emphasised that any bleeding experienced after the menopause was a cause for concern and would need to be looked into.
As the workshop finished and people started to leave, it was clear the session had been informative and enjoyable. One anonymous participant commented that workshops like these felt like a ‘broken cycle’ of silence around these issues. She also felt she could speak openly about symptoms like abnormal bleeding with her daughters and granddaughters. Marie, another participant, agreed, stating how good it was to see the way services had changed between the time she and her daughter experienced the menopause.
Zara Cross, SELCA Senior Programme Manager, emphasised: “ the overall aim of the programme is to provide a public forum and safe space for local residents to share experiences, signs and symptoms’”. She also noted “women are often the matriarch of their families, and they can share information with [their loved ones], and encourage them to book an appointment with a GP.”
Ruth Vidal-Tunkara, HBD Women’s Health Network Programme Lead and Senior Link Worker, concluded “We’re committed to creating new opportunities to engage local people and raise awareness about the importance of cancer screening. We appreciate the Eve Appeal collaborating with us in delivering such an interesting and inspiring session.”
Why testing is so important
According to research by The Eve Appeal womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and 9,700 people are diagnosed with it each year in the UK. Cases of womb cancer have risen by 132% in the last 30 years in the UK. In North East London in 2018, Black and Asian women were proportionally more likely to be diagnosed with womb cancer at stage four (late) rather than at stage one (early). If caught early, it’s very treatable – 90% of women diagnosed at stage one survive the disease.
Get support
If you think you, or a loved one, might be experiencing symptoms of womb cancer, visit: Womb (uterus) cancer – Help and support – NHS
Learn more
Cancer screening and prevention is a priority for Lambeth Together, read more about this and more in Our Health, Our Lambeth Lambeth Together health and care plan 2023-28
You Need to Know: South East London Cancer Alliance
Learn more about the signs and symptoms of womb (uterus) cancer.