76 - Other uterine cancer

Summary

This is a sub-category of All cancer deaths (see Map 7) and includes cancers in the uterus (womb) but not in the cervix (the neck of the womb) (see Map 53 Cervical cancer) or the ovaries (see Map 59 Ovarian cancer).

North of a line extending from Liverpool to Middlesbrough, rates tend to be lower, while south of this line, rates are higher, apart from the Home Counties. Two intervening proximal geographical factors may be influencing this pattern. The first could be related to better treatment being available in those parts of the Home Counties where rates are lowest. These are the most affluent parts of those already affluent counties. Second, some protective effect of living north of the Midlands or an opposing damaging effect of living in the Midlands and below may operate also.

The most common type of uterine cancer is endometrial cancer, which is cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the womb. Much less common are adenoacanthomas (which have a combination of two types of malignant cells) and sarcomas (which develop from the cells of the structure of the womb, rather than its lining). Many women have fibroids, which are benign tumours in the womb.

It is not known exactly what causes this form of cancer, but an imbalance between the hormones oestrogen and progesterone such that there is more of the former than the latter increases the risk. It is more common in women who have never had children, those who have diabetes and the obese.

Actress Anne Bancroft died from this cause.