Late Birth and Reduced Risk of Womb Cancer

A breakthrough fact about the uterine cancer has come into light from a study conducted by the University of Southern California. The researchers have found that women who give last birth at the age of 40 may have a decreased risk of endometrial cancer by 44 % than the women who delivered their last baby at the age of 25. Uterine cancer or endometrial cancer is the cancer that affects the endometrium i.e. the lining of the uterus (womb). Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in the United States affecting around 50,000 women each year. The American Cancer Society has estimated that 47,130 new cases of uterine body cancer will be diagnosed in 2012, out of which 8,010 women are believed to die from such cancers. Most of these cases are endometrial cancer.

Wendy Setiawan, professor of preventive medicine in the Keck School Of Medicine, University of Southern California states that the protection from the uterine cancer persists for many years in women who had their last delivery at their 30s and 40s.

This research was carried out by examining 8,671 cases of endometrial cancer and a total of 16,562 as control subjects. The cases were derived from the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium. The researchers found that as compared to women who last gave birth before 25-years, women who have their last child between 30-34 years reduce their risk of uterine cancer by 17% and those who have their last child between 30-34 years reduce their risk by 32%. This miraculous effect was seen in women even as they aged.

Setiawan says that the lower risk of cancer continued in older mothers at different age-at-diagnosis group, including under the ages 50, 50-59, 60-69 and over 70, which shows that the protection persists for many years.

However, the researchers are not sure about the link between late pregnancy and uterine cancers. In the view of Wendy Setiawan, the hormones secreted during the pregnancy are beneficial in preventing cancer. These hormones may be helpful to prevent the cancer-causing cells or they might develop a comparatively healthy uterus during their late pregnancy.

According to records, the number of cases of endometrial cancer is more comparatively higher in the western countries than in the other parts of the world. According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 4.3/100,000 cases of uterine cancer are reported in India every year and this number is believed to be on a rise due to obesity and increased body weight.

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Reference:

1. http://www.scgcorp.com/pdf/scg_written_11.pdf

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2. http://www.dhrc.in/cancer-of-uterine-cavity-gynec-oncology-services-hospital-india.html

Source-Medindia