Uterine Cancer Incidence and Mortality - United States, 1999-2016

Abstract

Uterine cancer is one of the few cancers with increasing incidence and mortality in the United States, reflecting, in part, increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity since the 1980s (1). It is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed and the seventh most common cause of cancer death among U.S. women (1). To assess recent trends in uterine cancer incidence and mortality by race and ethnicity, CDC analyzed incidence data from CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System (2). Most recent data available are through 2015 for incidence and through 2016 for mortality. Uterine cancer incidence rates increased 0.7% per year during 1999-2015, and death rates increased 1.1% per year during 1999-2016, with smaller increases observed among non-Hispanic white (white) women than among women in other racial/ethnic groups. In 2015, a total of 53,911 new uterine cancer cases, corresponding to 27 cases per 100,000 women, were reported in the United States, and 10,733 uterine cancer deaths (five deaths per 100,000 women) were reported in 2016. Uterine cancer incidence was higher among non-Hispanic black (black) and white women (27 cases per 100,000) than among other racial/ethnic groups (19-23 per 100,000). Uterine cancer deaths among black women (nine per 100,000) were higher than those among other racial/ethnic groups (four to five per 100,000). Public health efforts to help women achieve and maintain a healthy weight and obtain sufficient physical activity can reduce the risk for developing cancer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), the most common uterine cancer. Abnormal vaginal bleeding, including bleeding between periods or after sex or any unexpected bleeding after menopause, is an important symptom of uterine cancer (3). Through programs such as CDC's Inside Knowledge* campaign, promoting awareness among women and health care providers of the need for timely evaluation of abnormal vaginal bleeding can increase the chance that uterine cancer is detected early and treated appropriately.

FIGURE 1

Trends in age-adjusted uterine cancer incidence rates, by racial/ethnic group — United States, 1999–2015 Sources: CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Abbreviations: AAPC = average annual percent change; AI/AN = American Indian/Alaska Native; API = Asian/Pacific Islander. * Trends were measured with AAPC in rates and were considered to increase or decrease if p<0.05; otherwise, rates were considered stable. AAPC is the weighted average of the annual percent change over the period 1999–2015 using a Joinpoint regression model (up to 2 joinpoints). ^† Per 100,000 women, age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. Uterine cancers were defined as microscopically confirmed cancers of the corpus uteri (International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition [ICD-O-3] site codes C54.0–C54.3, C54.8, C54.9) and uterus, not otherwise specified (C55.9), excluding cases that were identified by autopsy or death certificate only. ^§ Mutually exclusive racial/ethnic groups are based on information about race/ethnicity that was collected separately and combined for this report. White, black, AI/AN, and API race categories are all non-Hispanic. Hispanic persons can be any race. ^¶ Cancer incidence compiled from cancer registries that meet the data quality criteria for each year during the period 1999–2015, covering 98% of the U.S. population.

FIGURE 2

Trends in age-adjusted uterine cancer death rates, by racial/ethnic group — United States, 1999–2016 Source: CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System. Abbreviations: AAPC = average annual percent change; AI/AN = American Indian/Alaska Native; API = Asian/Pacific Islander; NS = not significant. * Trends were measured with AAPC in rates and were considered to increase or decrease if p<0.05; otherwise rates were considered stable. AAPC is the weighted average of the annual percent change over the period 1999–2016 using a Joinpoint regression model (up to 2 joinpoints). ^† Per 100,000 women, age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. Uterine cancer deaths were defined as deaths from cancers of corpus uteri (International Classification of Diseases 10th Edition [ICD-10] codes C54.0–C54.3, C54.8, C54.9) and uterus, not otherwise specified (C55.9). ^§ Mutually exclusive racial/ethnic groups are based on information about race/ethnicity that was collected separately and combined for this report. White, black, AI/AN, and API race categories are all non-Hispanic. Hispanic persons can be any race.