[Click! Health] Rapidly Increasing Endometrial Cancer Incidence... "Early Detection Is Crucial"

Incidence Quadrupled Over 20 Years
Early Endometrial Cancer Achieves Over 90% 5-Year Survival Rate

Photo by Ewha Womans University Medical Center.

[Asia Economy Reporter Myunghwan Lee] As the incidence of endometrial cancer has been increasing recently, experts advise that early diagnosis is crucial.

Professor Mikyung Kim, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Ewha Womans University Women's Cancer Hospital, stated on the 4th, marking "World Cancer Day," that "Among female cancers, endometrial cancer is the one increasing most rapidly," and added, "Like other cancers, early detection of endometrial cancer is the most important."

Endometrial cancer is a cancer that occurs in the lining of the uterus. Its prevalence has gradually increased due to Westernized dietary habits, obesity, and an aging society. According to the Central Cancer Registry statistics, the crude incidence rate of endometrial cancer rose from 3.1 per 100,000 women in 1999 to 12.8 per 100,000 women in 2019. This represents nearly a fourfold increase over 20 years. Additionally, it ranked 7th among the top 10 cancers most commonly occurring in women.

Professor Kim advises that early detection of endometrial cancer is critical. More than 80% of endometrial cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage, and early-stage endometrial cancer has a 5-year survival rate exceeding 90%, indicating a favorable prognosis. However, advanced cancer, which accounts for 15-20%, responds less effectively to chemotherapy compared to other cancer types, resulting in a 5-year survival rate below 30%. The risk of recurrence is also less than 10% for early-stage endometrial cancer, but for advanced endometrial cancer, recurrence rates vary from 20% to over 50% depending on the stage.

Professor Kim emphasized, "Most early-stage endometrial cancers are highly curable with a very good prognosis, so there is no need to fear recurrence excessively. Regular screenings should be maintained. Since early diagnosis, which can be cured by surgery, is most important, symptoms such as heavy menstruation, irregular bleeding, or postmenopausal bleeding should not be ignored. Appropriate diagnostic tests should be conducted in a timely manner by consulting a gynecologist."

The stages of endometrial cancer are classified from stage 1 to 4: stage 1 is confined to the uterine body, stage 2 involves invasion of the cervix, stage 3 includes spread to lymph nodes or surrounding uterine tissues, and stage 4 indicates metastasis to other organs.

For stages 1 and 2 endometrial cancer, laparoscopic or robotic surgery is performed after staging surgery. If the uterus is large, open surgery is conducted to prevent the risk of cancer tissue spilling when removing the excised tissue. In stage 3, staging surgery is usually performed first, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy, or a combination of both, to reduce recurrence rates. For stage 4, chemotherapy is administered to alleviate symptoms, and in cases of severe bleeding, radiation therapy or hysterectomy is performed.

Postoperative management of endometrial cancer is also important. Regular exercise and maintaining an appropriate weight can affect survival rates. Professor Kim advised, "Rather than consuming many unverified health foods after suffering from endometrial cancer, it is more important to engage in moderate-intensity exercise that induces sweating for at least 30 minutes, three or more times a week, and to manage weight to avoid excessive gain."