Killer cancers more likely to strike women who have been obese for 10 years

KILLER cancers are far more likely to strike women who have been overweight for at least ten years, experts believe.

Being obese for a decade or more raises the risk of womb cancer by nearly 40 per cent.
And for breast cancer the chances increase by eight per cent for the fattest women.

While scientists knew excess weight was a factor, this study found being overweight for a long time boosts the risk.

The World Health Organisation tracked 74,000 women for 12 years.

For every ten years the women spent overweight, breast cancer risk rose five per cent and womb cancer by 17 per cent.

But among the fattest women the increase was eight per cent for breast and 37 per cent for womb. Other cancers, such as kidneys, bowel and pancreas, were also more likely.

The WHO report said: “teams should recognise the potential of obesity management in cancer prevention. Weight is important to manage, regardless of the age of the patient.”

Breast cancer strikes more than 50,000 women a year in the UK and womb cancer around 9,000.