National Uterine Fibroids Foundation

Cancer

The following gynecological cancer statistics were collected from the website of the National Cancer Institute and its associated web sites including CancerNet and are ranked in order of lifetime risk of diagnosis.

Endometrial Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Leiomyosarcoma/Uterine Sarcoma (stats combined due to rarity)

Endometrial Cancer

Rate of Incidence

22.4 cases per 100,000 white women per year; 15.3 cases per 100,000 black women per year (1992-1996).

Rank of Incidence

Fourth most common cause of cancer among women in the United States.

Lifetime risk of diagnosis is 2.68% for all races, 2.85% for whites and 1.72 in black women. (SEER stats for 1993-1997)
Lifetime risk of death is .51 % for all races, .49% for whites, and .71% for black women. (SEER stats for 1993-1997)
There were an estimated 36,100 new cases expected in the year 2000.
Risk increases with increasing age in most racial groups.
Onset age is 45 years.
Most common among Hawaiians, Japanese and white women.
Lowest rates are among Korean, Vietnamese, and American Indian women.
Predominant risk factor is usage of exogenous menopausal estrogens.
Highest in North America and northern Europe.
Lowest in Asia and Africa.
Marked increase and peak in 1975 and a decline thereof possibly resulting from use of estrogen replacement therapy.
Risk factors include high socioeconomic status and never given birth or few pregnancies.
A decrease in risk has been observed in women with multiple births.
Associated with obesity and possibly with abnormal glucose tolerance.
Obesity, associated with increased levels of estrogen, has been linked to increasing risk of endometrial cancer.

Mortality Rates

3.2 deaths per 100,000 population per year (white); 6 deaths per 100,000 population per year (black).

There were expected approximately 6,500 deaths in the year 2000.
Highest among Hawaiian women, followed by black women.

Survival Rates (1992-1996)

93% survive after the first year.
95% survive after 5 years (if detected at an early stage).
64% survive if detected during the regional stage.

Ovarian Cancer

Rate of Incidence

United States (1987-1991)

15.6 per 100,000 female population per year (white)
10.3 per 100,000 (black)

Rank

Fifth in incidence among women in the United States.
Lifetime risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is 1.71% for all races: 1.82% for whites, and 1.04% for black women. (SEER stats for 1993-1997)
Lifetime risk of dying from ovarian cancer is 1.04% for all races: 1.09% for whites, and .75% for black women. (SEER stats for 1993-1997)
In 1994, there were approximately 24,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in the U.S.
Women with breast cancer have a 70% risk of getting ovarian cancer.
Incidence increases with age and risk is three to five times greater in women whose mother or sister has developed ovarian cancer.
Reproductive and menstrual factors affect the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Women with more full-term pregnancies (usually 3 or greater) have about half the risk of those with none. Average reduction in risk is approximately 13-19% per pregnancy. Oral contraceptives may decrease risk while women with difficulties getting pregnant have an increased risk.
Dietary fats may cause a slight increase in risk.
Age at first birth, age at menarche and menopause, alcohol, coffee and tobacco have little or no risk.
Incidence rates are highest among American Indian women, followed by white, Vietnamese, white Hispanic, and Hawaiian women. Lowest rates are among Korean and Chinese women.

Rate of Mortality

United States (1987-1991)

8 per 100,000 population per year (white)
6.5 per 100,000 population per year (black)

In 1994, there were 13,600 deaths from ovarian cancer. These rates have declined slightly over the years. Mortality rates are highest among white women, followed by Hawaiian and black women.

Survival Rates

5 year survival rate for all races is 42% (1994).

Cervical Cancer

United States

2.7% of American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer.
78% of cervical cancers are diagnosed at the in situ stage.

World Rates (1992)

40 cases per 100,000 population per year.
7.3 cases per 100,000 population (white).
11.2 cases per 100,000 population (black).

Incidence Rates

Lifetime risk of diagnosis is .85% for all races, .78% for whites and 1.12% for black women (SEER stats for 1993-1997).
Lifetime risk of death is .31 % for all races, .27% for whites, and .58% for black women. (SEER stats for 1993-1997)
Incidence and mortality for invasive cervical cancer have declined about 40% since the 1970's. Mortality declined right before PAP smears became widely used.
Highest incidence rates are 43 cases per 100,000 population in Vietnamese women (1987-1991).
Lowest incidence rates are 5.8 cases per 100,000 population in Japanese women (1987-1991).
Risk factors are early age at initiation of sexual activity, multiple sex partners, infection with the human papilloma virus 16, and cigarette smoking.
Low intake of vitamin C and beta carotene may increase risk of cervical cancer.

Rate of Mortality

United States (1986-88)

2.7% in all women.
6.7% in black women.
7 deaths per 100,000 population per year (white).
12 deaths per 100,000 population per year (black).
4,600 deaths expected in year 2000.
Mortality rates are about 50-80% lower than incidence rates.
Black women have the highest mortality rate.
Lowest mortality rate occurs among Japanese women.
Highest mortality rates in Mexico and central America.

Survival Rates (5 year survival rate 1987-1991)

56% (black).
70% (white).

Survival rates may be affected by socioeconomic status and sexual behavior.

Leiomyosarcoma/Uterine Sarcoma (combined statistics)

Rate of Incidence

1.7 women per 100,000 female population per year are diagnosed with uterine sarcoma.
18.2% of all sarcoma cases are leiomyosarcoma.
Less than 1% of gynecologic malignancies are uterine sarcoma.
Age of onset is typically from 45-55 years of age.
10-25% of the cases are due to prior pelvic radiation.
5 year survival rate for patients with stage l disease is 50%. Survival rate for patients in the remaining stages are 0-20.