Mater doctors are urging women to know the symptoms of endometrial cancer, with cases of the disease forecast to surge by 50% by 20401.
An estimated 3,300 cases of the disease were diagnosed in Australia last year – double the number recorded 20 years ago.
Disturbingly, while the mortality rates for ovarian and cervical cancer continue to fall, endometrial cancer is the only gynaecological cancer with a rising mortality rate.
Doctors at Mater’s Brisbane hospital campus – Queensland’s leading centre for women’s cancer care – say modern lifestyles are the biggest driver of new cases.
Each year around 200 women have surgery at Mater to treat endometrial cancer.
Mater Private Hospital Brisbane gynaecological oncologist Dr Nisha Jagasia said metabolic syndrome – which is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity – is a major risk factor for endometrial cancer.
“We know that modern lifestyles mean that more people are living with obesity, which is a major health challenge in itself,” Dr Jagasia said.
“Women need to be aware that having a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30 increases your risk of endometrial cancer up to six times, compared with someone who has a BMI in the normal range of 18.5 to 25.”
Dr Jagasia said it is believed that oestrogen produced by fat tissue plays a role in triggering cancer in the endometrium (the uterus lining).
Endometrial cancer currently has an 83% five-year survival rate, as most cases can be treated successfully if detected at an early stage, but around 550 women lose their lives to the disease each year.
Many patients only require surgical management, including hysterectomy, while women with more advanced disease may require radiation and chemotherapy after surgery.
Endometrial cancer accounts for 90-95% of all uterine cancer cases and Mater doctors are using Uterine Cancer Awareness Month to urge women to seek medical attention for these symptoms:
- any bleeding in post-menopausal women
- persistent or abnormal bleeding in younger women
- discharge or pain in the pelvic area
- blood in urine.
“Early detection is essential. It is important to know the signs and risk factors of endometrial cancer,” Dr Jagasia said.
“Abnormal bleeding in pre-menopause, especially in women living with obesity, or any bleeding after menopause, should be investigated promptly.”
Dr Jagasia said that because endometrial cancer is often associated with obesity in premenopausal women, these patients usually face serious threats from other conditions.
“Endometrial cancer is highly curable, but often arises in women with other obesity-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or heart issues,” she said.
“It is these diseases that are more likely to result in death within five years of cancer treatment, rather than the cancer itself.
“Endometrial cancer should be a wake-up call for women and used to optimise other aspects of their health after treatment”.
Victoria Asirifi, 40, of Ellengrove, Brisbane, received an endometrial cancer diagnosis in 2021.
The social worker weighed 200kg at the time and had experienced heavy bleeding for “several months” before seeking advice from her general practitioner.
She received hormone therapy and also underwent gastric sleeve surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer spreading, losing 60kgs in weight.
Dr Jagasia performed an open hysterectomy on Ms Asirifi in April, which included the removal of her fallopian tubes and ovaries, preventing the cancer from metastasing.
“I wish I had known more about the risk factors of being overweight and how it can contribute to endometrial cancer,” Ms Asirifi said.
“Many women don’t know the correlation between being obese and endometrial cancer.
“The chances of giving birth to my own children are gone.
“I hope my story helps someone else who is sitting in silence.”
