Uterine Cancer

According to an article published in The New York Times, uterine cancer, also known as endometrial or womb cancer, is increasing so rapidly that it is expected to displace colorectal cancer by 2040 as the third most common cancer among women, and the fourth-leading cause of women’s cancer deaths.

As with other conditions we discuss on Uterine Care Collaborative, uterine cancer disproportionately affects Black women. According to the American Cancer Society, Black women are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with uterine cancer compared to white women.

So what are we really doing about it?

Our founder Kayla Nixon, MEd, was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome in 2017, ultimately leading to a uterine cancer diagnosis in 2019. Her experiences spurred the conception of this online community. “It can be hard to talk about our private parts, but it shouldn’t be,” Kayla says. “Roughly 168 million people have a uterus—why wouldn’t we be having conversations about them?” Uterine Care Collaborative is a haven for Black women and a catalyst for those conversations.

We can start here by exploring how uterine cancer affects us.

What are the symptoms of uterine cancer?

When caught early, uterine cancer is considered highly curable. So how do we learn to recognize the signs? We’re glad you asked.

The most common symptoms of uterine cancer include:

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding: This can include bleeding between periods, after menopause, or heavier than usual menstrual bleeding.

  • Pelvic pain or pressure: A persistent feeling of discomfort or pressure in the pelvis.

  • Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without making any changes to your diet or exercise routine.

  • Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or weak.

  • Abdominal bloating or fullness: A feeling of fullness or bloating in the abdomen, even when not eating.

If you experience any of these symptoms, we encourage you to see a medical provider for evaluation as soon as possible.

What uterine cancer risk factors do Black women commonly experience?

  • Diabetes

    According to a 2023 study published in Cancer Causes & Control, Black women reported a 40% increase in uterine/endometrial cancer risk among women with diabetes compared with women without diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is most often associated with uterine cancer.

  • Obesity

    Recent research suggests that prolonged obesity and/or early childhood obesity influences hormone balance and is associated with greater risk for uterine/endometrial cancer. The most common form, endometrioid cancer, is associated with estrogen exposure, which is higher when obesity is present.

  • Hypertension

    The results of a 2017 study confirmed that hypertension is a strong risk factor for endometrial cancer with a 61% increase in the relative risk.

What are the statistics?

  • According to a 2022 study published by the National Library of Medicine, recent statistics from the American Cancer Society reported an absolute difference of 21% in 5-year survival rates for uterine cancer, with 63% of Black women surviving compared with 84% of White women.

  • A study published by the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine uncovered a significant disparity in how Uterine Serous Carcinoma (USC) tumors express more aggressive and immunosuppressive features than tumors in Black patients than in white patients. 

  • According to a recent study in JAMA Oncology, the mortality rate has been increasing by almost 2 percent a year overall, with even sharper spikes among Asian, Hispanic and Black women.

  • A review of five population-based studies and one single-institution study totaling nearly 148,000 women appeared in a recent CDC report, demonstrating that Black women were more likely to present with more advanced and localized disease than White women. In the analysis, 54% of Black women presented with localized disease, compared with 71% of White women.

  • A 2018 study showed that Black women were less likely to undergo guideline-concordant diagnostic evaluation compared with White women, a finding associated with advanced stage at diagnosis.

  • Black women are also more likely to develop a form of uterine cancer called non-endometrioid uterine cancer, which is more aggressive.

  • Black women are less likely to be diagnosed early in the course of uterine cancer, and their survival rates are worse no matter when they are diagnosed and what subtype of the cancer they have.

Questions to Ask Your Provider

Explore questions to ask your healthcare provider about uterine cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fibroids, and endometriosis. Learn about diagnosis, treatment options, side effects, and support resources that help you make informed decisions.