Poor women's cancer 'more aggressive'

Cervical smears can spot potential cancers early

Women from poorer backgrounds have tumours which seem to grow far faster, say experts.

The study, by scientists at Glasgow University, may partly explain why death rates for cervical cancers are so much higher in less well-off areas.

We found that the speed at which the tumour grows is more important than any element of delay

Professor David Hole

The most likely explanation for the aggressive cancers, says the lead author, Professor David Hole, was a diet lacking in fresh fruit and vegetables, and higher rates of smoking.

Vitamins and minerals in fresh fruit and vegetables are thought to contain chemicals which can inhibit the development of cancers.

It is generally accepted that while smoking and poor diet may contribute to cervical cancer, lower uptakes of cervical smear testing in poorer areas mean that women in these places are more likely to be diagnosed with full-blown disease, as opposed to pre-cancerous cells which are more easily treated.

Women in more deprived areas also seem less likely to go to their doctors early when they have a problem, leading to later diagnosis.

Professor Hole said it remained vital women attended regular smear tests to allow early detection of cervical cancer as well as increasing their consumption of fresh food and giving up cigarettes.

However, the extra aggression of the tumours was previously unknown. Poor access to health care had been blamed for high death rates in deprived areas compared to affluent areas.

Aggressive tumours

Professor Hole told the Press Association: "We found that the speed at which the tumour grows is more important than any element of delay and that women from less affluent areas have tumours that grow more rapidly."

He said: "A lack of vitamin A and beta carotenes, which are found in fruit and vegetables, and smoking may be important in controlling the speed at which it grows.

"This research is significant in that it should change the emphasis away from delay to an attempt to try to understand how these tumours grow so rapidly.

"In the meantime our message to women is that they should have regular smear tests, they should get any symptoms seen to as soon as possible, they should up their fruit and vegetable intake and, if they are smokers, they should kick their habit".

The research, funded by the Scottish Office Home Health Department, was the first study relating the speed of tumour growth to how advanced the cancer was when diagnosed.

A total of 177 cervical cancer patients in the West of Scotland took part in the study over a 20 month period.

Of those taking part, 141 women were undergoing radiotherapy, of whom 36 women were operated on.

The full results will be published in a forthcoming edition of the British Journal of Cancer.