Sign of cancer: What post-menopausal women should not ignore

When detected early, most postmenopausal bleeding conditions can be successfully treated, but it is important to notice all of the symptoms.

A few days before Christmas 2017, Shelley Nott started bleeding, in a similar way to the beginnings of her periods. "I did not really understand what was going on," Nott told the Telegraph, who was 59 at the time and had gone through menopause 14 years ago. After occasional tests, it was found that she had colon cancer.

When detected early, most postmenopausal bleeding conditions can be successfully treated, which happened to Nott.

But according to The Eve Appeal, a fund to fund research and raise awareness of the five types of gynecological cancer - uterus, ovary, cervix, vulva and vagina - 80% of women would not go to the doctor if they experienced bleeding sudden vaginal.

The Eve Appeal and similar campaigns aim to make women aware of when vaginal bleeding is normal and when it is not. It may not be normal in many cases, from bleeding between periods, bleeding after sex to bleeding after menopause.

Numerous studies say that 5% of postmenopausal bleeding is due to cancer. So it is not very common, but it is enough not to be ignored. Such a percentage is equal to 1 in 20 people.

When estrogen levels fall as women go through menopause, the skin everywhere becomes drier and thinner, which means that the skin in the vagina is thinner and there happens to be bleeding after sex. A concern is easily resolved through creams, however specialists want women to seek advice and medical help anyway, because only then will something more serious be caught early.

Sources: Telegraph, Healthline