Experience of Symptoms Indicative of Gynaecological Cancers in UK Women

Abstract

Background: Gynaecological cancers account for B12% of female cancer incidence in the United Kingdom. Encouraging prompt help-seeking for potential symptoms could help improve outcomes. However, before developing help-seeking interventions, it is important to estimate the number of women with symptoms potentially indicative of a gynaecological cancer to help estimate the impact of such interventions on primary care.

Specific and unspecific gynecological alarm symptoms – prevalence estimates in different age groups: a population‐based study

“…Low et al. reported the occurrence of 13 symptoms within the past 3 months, which differs from items in the present study, where 18 symptoms were experienced within the past 4 weeks. Further, in the study by Low et al.…”

“…In a recent study, Low et al. investigated the prevalence of gynecological alarm symptoms in a population‐based study and found that 44% of the study population had experienced at least one alarm symptom, compared with 80.3% in our study population. However, there are some differences between the two studies which may explain the higher prevalence in our study.…”

Endometrial Cancer Associated Symptoms: A Case-Control Study

“…2 With regard to symptom prevalence, studies have investigated the rates of overall potential gynecological cancer symptoms. 5,6 These studies have shown high rates of gynecological cancer symptoms, in the general population, with 44%-80% of women experiencing at least one cancer-related symptom, and many women reporting multiple symptoms. Postmenopausal bleeding, specifically, has been shown to occur in 1%-10% of women overall [5][6][7] and incidence decreases with time from menopause.…”

“…5,6 These studies have shown high rates of gynecological cancer symptoms, in the general population, with 44%-80% of women experiencing at least one cancer-related symptom, and many women reporting multiple symptoms. Postmenopausal bleeding, specifically, has been shown to occur in 1%-10% of women overall [5][6][7] and incidence decreases with time from menopause. 7 These studies, however, have not compared the rates of these symptoms to rates in those patients diagnosed with a gynecological cancer.…”

Gynecological cancer alarm symptoms: is contact with specialist care associated with lifestyle and socioeconomic status? A population‐based study

“…Such guidelines include a number of cancer alarm symptoms that have been associated with cancer in earlier studies and that should lead to focused investigation . The current literature shows that many of the cancer alarm symptoms are very common in the general population , and it is unlikely that all symptoms result in focused investigation. Whether the individuals at highest risk of having cancer undergo focused investigation has yet to be explored.…”