“If too much estrogen is concentrated in that organ, it can create premature changes in the cells that can cause [un aumento en la producción celular] and eventually cancer,” says Dr. Jennifer Mueller, a gynecologic surgeon who specializes in treating endometrial cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Excess weight can also trigger insulin resistance, and that can affect hormone levels in the body. “We believe that inflammation and insulin resistance are factors that can lead to developing endometrial cancer,” says Mueller.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 70% of uterine cancers can be attributed to excess body weight and insufficient physical activity. The organization says endometrial cancer is twice as common in overweight women and more than three times more common in obese women than in women of a healthy weight.
But that’s only part of the explanation, says Matulonis. Other risk factors for cancer include family history, having had breast or ovarian cancer, and having used the breast cancer treatment tamoxifen. Women with PCOS also have a higher risk of developing uterine cancer. More recently, scientists have linked chemical hair straighteners to an increased risk of uterine cancer.
When it comes to the rising mortality rate, research shows that more women are being diagnosed with aggressive forms of uterine cancer than in the past, which could explain the change. A National Cancer Institute study found that between 2000 and 2015, incidence rates for dangerous subtypes of cancer rose rapidly in women—particularly black women—between the ages of 30 and 79, although the reason is unclear. .
“It’s currently unknown exactly why we’re seeing an increase in cases” and mortality, Matulonis said. She added that more research is needed to better understand what’s driving these trends and contributing to alarming racial and ethnic divides.
Bleeding after menopause is the main warning sign
There are no routine screening tests for women at average risk of developing cervical cancer like there are for breast cancer, colon cancer and cervical cancer. That’s why it’s crucial to pay attention to any early warning signs of the disease, doctors warn.
The most common symptom of uterine cancer is abnormal bleeding after menopause. (The average age of diagnosis for uterine cancer is 60.) The American Cancer Society says that about 90% of women with uterine cancer have abnormal bleeding.
“And when I say bleeding, I’ve started adding other words like ‘spotting,’ ‘discharge’ or ‘dripping,'” Mueller explains. She cautions that it doesn’t have to be a lot of blood — a small amount, even a spot, should prompt you to talk to your doctor. “Any type of abnormal discharge is a major red flag,” Mueller says.