Latest news with #CRUK
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Men and women develop skin cancer in different parts of the body
Areas of the body most likely to develop skin cancer vary between men and women, research has found, as cases of melanoma are expected to rise this year. According to analysis by Cancer Research UK (CRUK), four in 10 melanomas in men are found on the torso, including the back, chest and stomach, the equivalent of 3,700 cases a year. More than a third – 35 per cent – of melanomas in women are found on lower limbs, from the hips to the feet, and account for 3,200 cases every year. It is thought the variations are due to differences in behaviour, with men more likely to be in the sun without a shirt while women might wear shorts or skirts as the weather gets warmer. READ MORE The study found that 87 per cent of melanoma cases, the equivalent of 17,100 in the UK each year, are caused by overexposure to UV radiation. Last year, rates of melanoma skin cancer reached an all-time high in the UK, with new diagnoses increasing by a quarter from 21 to 28 in every 100,000 people between 2007 and 2009 and 2017 and 2019, according to CRUK figures. There has been a 57 per cent rise among the over-80s and a 7 per cent rise in those aged 25 to 49. The charity has also warned that melanoma cases are expected to rise again this year, with 21,300 cases. Michelle Mitchell, CRUK chief executive, said: 'Improvements in skin cancer survival rates highlight the remarkable progress driven by our research. But the growing number of people diagnosed with melanoma is still concerning, especially when we can see that rates are rising faster in men. 'If you notice anything different on your skin, like a new mole, a mole that's changed in size, shape or colour, or any patch of skin that looks out of the ordinary – don't ignore it, speak to your GP. We want to beat skin cancer for everyone, no matter who they are or where they're from – early diagnosis is key and could make all the difference.' [ Sunbeds, melanoma and me: 'I knew the risks but thought it could never happen' Opens in new window ] Fiona Osgun, head of health information at CRUK, said: 'As the weather gets warmer, it's really important to look after yourself in the sun. Getting sunburned just once every couple of years can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer, compared with never being burned. And it's not just the hot, sunny days you need to watch out for – UV rays can be strong enough to cause skin damage between mid-March and mid-October in the UK, even when it's cloudy or cool. [ Nine in 10 with melanoma skin cancer survive at least five years Opens in new window ] 'That's why we encourage people to take some simple steps to stay safe. Try to stick to the shade between 11am and 3pm when the sun is strongest, wear clothes that help cover up your skin, with a hat and sunglasses, and use a sunscreen with at least SPF30 and 4 or 5 stars.' Professor Peter Johnson, the national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: 'Prevention is by far the best plan with skin cancer, so avoid the sun when it is at its hottest and ensure you use sunscreen. For skin cancer, as for any cancer, it is vital that you are seen and diagnosed as early as possible, so people should come forward if they are concerned about symptoms. Getting checked saves lives.'
ITV News
09-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Mum and daughter start Chester Race For Life after both survive cancer diagnosis
Suzanne and Victoria Green may look like any other mother and daughter, but they are connected by a unique and unwanted bond. Both of them were diagnosed with cancer in a very short time, and both have survived. For Victoria her diagnosis came like a bolt out of the blue, as she explains: "I was 30 at the time, it wasn't even on my radar, anything like that. "When I was diagnosed I just cried and cried, I was so upset." Her cancer was particularly aggressive and her treatment was equally taxing for her, needing a mastectomy and losing her hair. With the help of her medical team she was eventually given the all-clear, but there was more terrible news for her when her mum Suzanne discovered that she too had the condition. Suzanne recalls: "I got Hodgkin Lymphoma, so that was such a shock. "After what the whole family had been through, to tell them was my worst fear. "I just didn't want to tell them." Victoria adds: "When she told me I was so upset, I started crying again, I think we were all in tears. "Exactly a year from when I was having my diagnosis as well, it was just the worst luck." Now they're both cancer-free and they've been chosen to start Cancer Research UK's (CRUK) Race For Life in Chester. In more than 30 years since it was set up the Race For Life has raised almost a billion pounds for the charity, and CRUK's Richard Healey says that there is one aim: "Every pound raised at Cancer Research UK's Race For Life will go towards our research into all 200 types of cancer, with the aim that by 2034 3 in 4 of us will survive our cancer diagnosis for 10 years or more." Having blown the starting horn Suzanne and Victoria will walk the course when the event gets underway at Chester Race Course this Sunday, as Suzanne isn't quite up to full fitness yet.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors pinpoint two 'vague' toilet symptoms that are a warning sign of liver cancer - cases in under 50s have surged by 86 per cent since the 90s
Two critical changes in your toilet habits could be a sign of a deadly cancer that is on the rise in Britian. Bile duct cancer, medically known as cholangiocarcinoma, is a cancer that grows in tubes connecting the liver, gallbladder and the intestine. The aggressive disease strikes about 3,100 people in the UK each year, with only one in 20 patients expected to be alive five years after their diagnosis. Charity, Liver Cancer UK, states some of the warning signs of bile duct cancer are only detectable when people go to the toilet. These include unusually dark or pale urine and pale 'putty-like' stool. Both are potential signs of jaundice, a condition indicating the liver is under serious stress. In cases of bile-duct cancer, it can be a sign the disease has blocked the tubes connecting to the liver, causing the bile to leak into blood and other tissue. Other signs of jaundice include a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes and itchy skin. Additional potential signs of bile duct cancer include unintentional weight loss, abdominal pain — most often in the right-hand side of the stomach — flu-like symptoms like fever and fatigue as well as a loss of appetite. While the Liver Cancer UK said these can be symptoms of other conditions, they urged people experiencing them to contact their GP for advice. This is because, if it is cancer-related, an earlier diagnosis can vastly improve treatment options and outcomes. Scientists are unsure what exactly causes bile-duct cancer to form in some people as opposed to others. However, Liver Cancer UK said it's not always related to drinking alcohol. 'It's a myth that liver cancers are always related to alcohol. In fact, it's unclear whether alcohol is linked to bile duct cancer,' the charity states. As is the case for many forms of cancer, age is the biggest risk factor for the disease, with the vast majority of cases among patients between the ages of 50 and 70. However, some health conditions, like infection with parasites called liver flukes and some forms of inflammatory bowel disease are known to increase the risk of bile duct cancer. People with conditions like these are at increased risk of developing the disease at a younger age. Charity, Cancer Research UK (CRUK), has observed a rise in bile duct cancer diagnoses in recent years. The reason for the increase is unclear, however some experts have suggested a rise in lifestyle choices such as smoking and drinking alcohol could be playing a part. Bile duct cancer is divided into two main types, intrahepatic and extrahepatic. Intrahepatic bile duct cancers are those that form inside bile-ducts in the liver, while extrahepatic cancers are those that form in bile ducts outside of the organ. The former is considered a type of liver cancer, and accounts for the majority of bile duct cancers diagnosed in the UK. CRUK data shows overall cases of liver cancer are on the rise among younger adults, medically defined in cancer care as those diagnosed under the age of 50. Rates of the disease have increased by 86 per cent among 25-to-49-year-olds since the 90s. However, the overwhelming majority of cases are still in older adults with people over the age of 80 having the highest risk. Liver cancer is estimated to have killed more than 81,000 people in the last 20 years, with deaths projected to rise a further 10 per cent by 2040, according to CRUK. The disease is currently the eighth most common cause of cancer death in the UK, but by 2040, the charity warns that it could rank sixth. Around one in four liver cancer cases in the UK are caused by obesity, while a fifth are related to smoking, and one in 14 are due to excessive alcohol, research shows. Treatment for bile duct cancer usually consists of surgery to remove as much of the disease as possible followed by treatments like chemotherapy.
The Courier
04-05-2025
- Health
- The Courier
Angus cancer survivor to cycle Etape in tribute to late father
An Angus man's personal battle with cancer – and the heavy toll of the disease on his family – will power him over the roads of Highland Perthshire this month. RAF engineer Nathan Grove, from Letham, is among the field set to tackle Etape Caledonia 2025. Around 5,000 cyclists will converge on Pitlochry for the latest edition of the popular closed-road sportive on May 11. Nathan is championing bowel cancer awareness after being diagnosed with the disease in 2020 at the age of just 41. Originally from Tain in the Scottish Highlands, he has served with the RAF, both in the UK and abroad, for 26 years. Since his diagnosis, Nathan has had radiotherapy, two rounds of chemotherapy and two surgeries to treat the cancer. Even before his diagnosis, Nathan was an endurance event enthusiast. Over the years he has raised nearly £13,000 for Cancer Research UK, cycling hundreds of miles before and after treatment. And next weekend he will tackle the 55-mile route on the Cancer Research UK Etape Caledonia to raise further funds in memory of his late father. He survived prostate cancer, but subsequently died from a brain tumour and lung cancer. Nathan said: 'I wouldn't let cancer stop me from living my life to the fullest. 'Cycling has helped me regain my strength, gave me focus during my recovery and reminded me that every challenge can be overcome. 'By taking part in the Cancer Research UK Etape Caledonia, I want to raise money to support the invaluable research that goes on in the background to try and come up with novel techniques to treat this disease and, hopefully one day, beat it. 'It's got to be the way ahead. 'We can't just keep letting cancer win. 'My dad had prostate cancer in the late 2000s and I lost him last year through a brain tumour and lung cancer, so the charity's very close to our heart. 'I don't have the same physical stamina I once did, but I'm still too stubborn to sit idle and I love a challenge,' Nathan said. Bowel cancer awareness month each April aims to spotlight the fourth most common cancer in the UK. Nathan also emphasises how important its early detection can be towards successful treatment. After experiencing his own diagnosis and getting through the physical and emotional toll of treatment, Nathan says he will do all he can to get that message across. Nathan's fundraising page can be found at Nathan's CRUK fundraiser Event director Jo Dytch said: 'Cancer Research UK Etape Caledonia is more than just a cycling event. It's about personal triumphs, overcoming challenges and coming together as a community. 'Nathan's story embodies everything this event stands for, and we hope it inspires more people to sign up and be part of something truly special.'
Glasgow Times
02-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
'My sister pushed for cancer test, without her I might not be here'
The physiotherapist is in remission from cancer but she knows things could have turned out very differently. 'I felt fortunate to have Nadia by my side that day,' says Djennah, who is 33, and mother to five-year-old Millie. Djenna with her daughter Millie (Image: CRUK) Djennah, from Motherwell, first visited her GP after discovering a lump in her right breast in February last year. Initial tests showed there was "no cause for concern" but over time, the lump continued to grow. Nadia, who lives in Blantyre, had been treated for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early breast cancer, in 2021 when she was 39. DCIS means some cells in the lining of the ducts of the breast tissue have started to turn in to cancer cells. Djenna is taking part in the Race for Life (Image: CRUK) Djennah returned to the breast clinic in September last year and this time, she took Nadia with her. The two women persuaded medical staff to do a mammogram, which picked up an area of concern. Djennah was referred for a biopsy, and on October 1, 2024, she was told she too had DCIS. 'Your world collapses when you hear the word cancer,' says Djennah. 'My daughter had just started school and we'd been making plans for her fifth birthday which was three days away. 'But I felt lucky that the cancer had been caught early." READ NEXT: Glasgow apprentices hail sport programme as "life-changing" READ NEXT: Pupils' fears over selfish parking outside Glasgow school following 'near misses' She adds: 'If my sister hadn't come with me to that appointment, I don't know if I would have pushed for a mammogram and the outcome could have been very different. 'I'd been told that mammograms are harder to read in younger women because the breast tissue is denser. They agreed to go ahead with the test because of our family history. 'We've always been close as sisters and I felt fortunate to have her by my side that day. I'm grateful for her support all through the treatment that followed.' Djenna in hospital during treatment (Image: CRUK) Djennah's story did not end there, however. A week before her surgery to remove the lump, blood tests picked up a fault in the ATM gene, which is important for repairing DNA damage and maintaining the health of cells. It means she has a higher risk of breast cancer than the general population. 'That was a lot to take in,' she admits. 'I also knew this was information I'd now need to share with my wider family so the news came with a feeling of responsibility. 'I worried that I was giving people something to worry about and I couldn't help feeling guilty about it.' Nadia, who is now 42, has since discovered she has the ATM gene fault. The women's other sister Luisa, and mum Sandra, have not taken the test. After the operation and radiotherapy, Djennah rang the bell to mark the end of treatment at the Beatson Cancer Centre. Djenna with her daughter Millie and partner Ross (Image: CRUK) She said: 'It's been an emotional time but I'm stronger now. There have been tears but my wonderful sisters and mum were there for me every step of the way. 'My partner Ross has been incredible. I don't know what I'd have done without him.' She adds, smiling: 'And my daughter Millie is my ray of sunshine, who makes me smile every day.' Djennah is sharing her story as she prepares to take part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life at Glasgow Green on May 18. The family have vowed to complete the 5k, crossing the finish line together, and are calling on people to join them. 'The ATM gene fault was only discovered in the 1990s so I'm aware we're being helped by science which in the past was simply not known about,' says Djennah. 'Now I want to do what I can for people going through similar situations and to raise awareness that cancer can happen at any age. 'I firmly believe that knowledge is power. It has allowed me to make plans. I will definitely be having a double mastectomy to reduce my risk in the near future.' Every year around 34,600 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland. Cancer Research UK's Race for Life, in partnership with headline sponsor Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, is an inspiring series of 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research. Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK's spokeswoman Scotland, said: 'We are grateful to Djennah for her support and know her story will make an impact on everyone who hears it. 'Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can support the research that will beat it. We're proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact.' To enter, visit
