The number of American women diagnosed with uterine cancer is on the rise, according to a recent medical study. Aggressive uterine cancer subtypes are also climbing.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 65,950 new cases of uterine cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2022, and the disease will claim the lives of nearly 12,550 women. Uterine cancer is already the most common reproductive system cancer, but it is expected to displace colorectal cancer by 2040 as the third most common cancer among women. It also affects Black women more than other ethnic groups, and women with Lynch syndrome, a hereditary disorder that makes a person more prone to develop cancer, also have a very high risk of developing uterine cancer.
If you are concerned about your risk for uterine cancer, it’s important to be aware of your body and any unusual symptoms. As with most cancers, treatment options and survival rates are better when uterine cancer is detected early.
What Is Uterine Cancer?
Uterine cancer develops in the lining of the uterus, also known as the endometrium or womb, where a fetus grows during pregnancy. After menopause, the endometrium can get thicker and bleed. Sometimes endometrium cells become cancerous. In rare instances, a uterine sarcoma develops when the cancer starts in the muscles and other tissues of the uterus.
Uterine Cancer Risk and Symptoms
Women are most commonly diagnosed with uterine cancer between the ages of 55-64 and the average age of diagnosis is 60. But younger women are not immune from the disease. Women who have certain hereditary conditions are more likely to experience uterine cancer before the age of 50.
Certain factors increase your risk of uterine cancer, such as obesity, diabetes and other health conditions. Women taking estrogen without progesterone for menopausal hormone therapy are more likely with this cancer.
Check in with your primary care provider or OB/GYN if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- A change in menstrual bleeding before or after menopause
- Painful urination and intercourse
- Pelvic pain
- Unusual vaginal discharge
It’s not clear why Black women have a higher incidence of uterine cancer than any other race or ethnic group. They’re also more likely to have aggressive forms of uterine cancer and twice as likely to die from the disease. Researchers suggest poor access to quality health care may be a factor, but they acknowledge that their understanding of what’s driving the racial and ethnic disparities is not yet complete.
Uterine Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Your health care provider can help you understand your potential risk of uterine cancer and get regular pelvic exams. There are also a few lifestyle choices you can make to help protect you, such as:
- Being physically active
- Keeping a balanced diet
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Taking oral contraceptives
Researchers are also looking for ways to help women at high risk. For example, one study is trying to determine whether routine examinations and uterine biopsies to detect and treat abnormal cells early would be effective. They’re also looking to see if IUDs that release specific hormones could help prevent uterine cancer.
As with any cancer, early detection is key to a better outcome. Stage 1 uterine cancer treatment usually entails having a hysterectomy. More than 80 percent of women survive at least five years after their diagnosis. However, the chance that uterine cancer will come back increases if the cancer is diagnosed at a later stage.
For women with more advanced uterine cancer, treatment usually includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and hormonal treatment, or a combination of therapies.
More to Read
- What You Should Know About Genetic Testing for Cancer
- Do I Need to Be Screened for Colorectal Cancer?
- How Exercise Helps Breast Cancer Prevention and Recovery
- Coping with Cancer Recurrence
Medically Reviewed by Kim Brice, CRNP and Adam Goldrich, MD.
