Portsmouth surgeon calls for people to talk about body as part of awareness month

September marks Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month and figures from Cancer Research UK show 21,000 women in the UK are diagnosed every year.

Symptoms for the cancers are often missed and men and women are being encouraged to open up and discuss it. 

Dirk Brinkmann, consultant gynaecologist and cancer surgeon at Spire Portsmouth Hospital, said: '˜Cancer doesn't just affect the person with the disease so that means it is much more than just a 'woman's problem'.'

'˜Women and men need to be more aware of what is normal because this is the only way they will be able to tell when something is wrong.

'˜As with all cases of cancer the quicker it is detected the better the treatment outcomes.'

Gynaecological cancers are cervical, ovarian, vaginal, womb and vulva. Symptoms vary for the different cancers but can include swelling, bleeding, abdominal pains, tenderness or lumps. 

Mr Brinkmann added: '˜The lack of basic knowledge about the female body or conversations around how the female anatomy works, is worrying.

'˜I am not expecting people to have a vast medical knowledge but it really is worth taking the time to find out what is healthy and what should be checked out.'