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Over eight years, deaths from the aggressive type rose by
2.7% per year, while deaths were stable for the less aggressive kind, their
study found. Black women had more than twice the rate of deaths from uterine
cancer overall, and of the more aggressive type, when compared to other racial
and ethnic groups.
The aggressive kind — called Type 2 endometrial cancer — is
more difficult to treat. By the end of the study period, it accounted for about
20% of cases and 45% of deaths.
“For most cancers, there have been improvements over the
last 20 years. It’s alarming that we haven’t had the same success with uterine
cancer,” said Dr. Pamela Soliman of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who
was not involved in the study.
“This allows us to focus our efforts on specific areas that
could potentially have a bigger impact on mortality,” Soliman said.
An estimated 65,950 new cases of uterine cancer will be
diagnosed in the U.S. this year and 12,550 women are expected to die from it.
Irregular bleeding can be a warning sign, but there is no recommended screening
test.
Researchers analyzed U.S. cancer data for women 40 and
older. They found overall uterine cancer death rates increased by 1.8% per year
from 2010 to 2017.
Annual rates increased 3.4% among Asian women, 3.5% among
Black women, 6.7% among Hispanic women and 1.5% among white women. (The
researchers adjusted for hysterectomy rates, which vary by race. Women who’ve
had their wombs removed cannot get uterine cancer.
Obesity is a risk factor for the less aggressive uterine
cancer, but there’s no clear risk factor for the more aggressive kind, said the
National Cancer Institute’s Megan Clarke, who led the study, published in the
journal JAMA Oncology.
“We think it is something that is more common in Black women
and increasing in the population for all women,” Clarke said. “It’s very
puzzling and concerning.” -AP
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