Breast and lung cancers rise in younger women

PREMATURE deaths from cancer for Oldham women under 75 have risen, according to latest figures.

A previous decrease in the number of early deaths from heart disease in women under 75 has also levelled off.

Both statistics published in the Oldham Public Health Report 2008 have raised concern among health chiefs.

Lung cancer is responsible for the largest proportion of cancer deaths for both men and women in Oldham.

However, life expectancy for men and women across the borough is increasing — but slowly.

Figures show men in Oldham are expected to live to just under 76, compared with the national average of 78.

Oldham women are expected to live to 78, four years less than their national average of 82.

Alan Higgins, director of public health, said there were key reasons why premature death rates in women from breast and lung cancer were not falling in Oldham.

“Smoking is, without doubt, the main cause of lung cancer.

“We need to direct even more of our efforts to supporting and encouraging women to give up smoking.

“In relation to breast cancer, we do know that some women who have found a lump in their breast put off going to their GP for some time and there is then less chance of successfully treating the condition.

“We need to make sure all women are aware of possible signs of a problem, know how to check themselves, do this regularly and go to their GP as soon as they spot anything.

“And of course it’s also important than women invited for breast screening make sure they attend.

“Between them these two steps — quitting smoking and seeing your GP earlier with possible signs of cancer — could stop many women in Oldham dying early from cancer.”

Mr Higgins welcomed improvements to life expectancy for men in some of the most deprived wards.

But he said the gap in life expectancy for women between the best and worst wards had become wider.

There is a life expectancy gap of 10.2 years for males and 10.9 years for females between the best and worst wards.

Men in Saddleworth North are expected to live for 79.7 years compared with 69.5 in Alexandra.

Women in Saddleworth South lived the longest — to 85 — while those in Alexandra lived to only 74.

Mr Higgins said: “It is clear from the statistics that the challenge to improve health and well-being in Oldham remains a difficult one.”

This year’s report, entitled “Our Health in Our Words”, provides an insight into how people understand their own health and the environment that affects it.

Interviews involving 50 health professionals and members of the public were undertaken last summer.

Mr Higgins said the findings should mark a new way in how health issues were tackled, especially when it came to designing and targeting services.