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endometrial cancer in canada: stats, impact, and resources
5 minute read
diagnosing endometrial cancer is typically done via symptom collection, tests such as pelvic and transvaginal ultrasounds, and biopsies of the endometrial tissue.
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endometrial cancer, also referred to as uterine cancer, is a form of gynecological cancer that develops in the inner lining of the uterus, tissue known as the endometrium.
the signs and symptoms of the disease are commonly found in other conditions and disorders of the female reproductive tract, including vaginal bleeding between periods, vaginal bleeding after menopause, difficult or painful urination, pain during sexual intercourse, and pelvic pain.
this type of cancer is considered the most common gynecological cancer in canada, representing 95 per cent of all uterine cancers in the country. it’s estimated that as many as 8,600 canadians will develop endometrial cancer in 2024, with 1,600 dying from the disease.
the cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, but there are some notable risk factors associated with its development, such as:
- other health disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome, lynch syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and obesity
- starting menopause later in life
- experiencing estrogen dominance
- the use of tamoxifen, an estrogen blocker
- nulliparity, which is when a person has never given birth or carried a fetus for over 24 weeks
- older age (risk begins to increase at 35 and peaks at age 70 before lowering after that)
diagnosing endometrial cancer is typically done via symptom collection, tests such as pelvic and transvaginal ultrasounds, and biopsies of the endometrial tissue. once a case of endometrial cancer is confirmed, treatment will take place and involve surgery as the primary therapy for early-stage cases, with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other targeted therapies used for advanced disease.
prognosis is typically good for those diagnosed in the early stages, with rates of survival lowering the further along the disease is. endometrial cancer can also recur, leading to secondary treatments and a poorer prognosis.
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rates of endometrial cancer are rising in canada, and it’s estimated that by the year 2032, the number of new cases will have increased from 4,105 to 7,700 per year.
endometrial cancer stats in canada
in 2024 alone, it’s estimated that 8,600 canadians will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer, with 1,600 deaths occurring due to the disease. it is considered the most common gynecological cancer and the second most fatal in the country.
the majority of cases, more than 90 per cent, occur in people over the age of 50, with the average age of diagnosis being 63. endometrial cancer risk typically increases with age.
that said, incidence rates continue to rise in those aged 30 to 49. between 1997 and 2016, new endometrial cancer diagnoses occurred at a rising rate of 3.6 per cent per year. in 1997, the incidence rate was 5.7 per 100,000 people; in 2016, it was 11.3 per 100,000 people.
deaths caused by endometrial cancer continue to rise with the incidence rates. the overall five-year survival rate of endometrial cancer is roughly 82 per cent. when broken down by stage, those numbers differ.
- stage 0: 90% survival rate
- stage 1a: 88% survival rate
- stage 1b: 75% survival rate
- stage 2: 69% survival rate
- stage 3a: 58% survival rate
- stage 3b: 50% survival rate
- stage 3c: 47% survival rate
- stage 4a: 17% survival rate
- stage 4b: 15% survival rate
these rates depend on many factors, including a person’s health history, cancer characteristics, and response to treatment.
the overall lifetime risk of developing endometrial cancer is one in 39. the risk of dying from endometrial cancer is roughly 1 in 173.
the disease affects all races equally. that said, those who are black are more likely to die from endometrial cancer than any other demographic. the rising rates are also two times higher in all racial and ethnic minorities than they are in caucasian people.
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there are two specific types of endometrial cancer: type 1 and type 2. type 1 is more common and accounts for 80 per cent of cases in the country, with type 2 making up the remaining 20 per cent. type 1 endometrial cancer is closely related to excess estrogen and is considered more survivable, whereas type 2 is non-estrogen related and comes with poorer prognoses.
recurrent endometrial cancer also comes with a worse prognosis, and roughly 17 per cent of all people who develop endometrial cancer once will do so a second time.
impact of endometrial cancer on canadian society
when looking at cancer in the general sense, there are both direct and indirect costs. direct costs are medical, time, and out-of-pocket expenses, whereas indirect costs are productivity and wage losses.
the average cost of cancer care in canada, based on generalized cancer costs per patient, includes:
- health system costs: $89,434 for diagnostics, treatment, and terminal care.
- out-of-pocket costs: $13,781 to account for medications, homecare, alternative medicine, accommodations, devices, family care, travel, and parking
- direct time costs: $9,653 to account for care providers
- indirect costs: $12,510 to account for lost wages and employment
these costs may vary depending on the cancer type, stage, and after-effects of surviving cancer for each person.
data on the cost burden associated with endometrial cancer in canada is scarce. in canada, the economic burden of endometrial cancer, or cancers that occur within the uterus, is broken down into different categories and is in the millions.
overall, the total health system cost for uterine cancers was $353 million in 2021. out-of-pocket and indirect costs that fall on the backs of patients totalled $99 million and $105 million, respectively. direct time costs were roughly $61 million.
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more research from 2007 looked at these costs against treatments and found that the average lifetime cost for treating endometrial cancer with surgery ranged significantly between $8,300 and $10,000 per person when surgery was involved in the treatment plan.
the average quality-adjusted life expectancy rates also ranged between 8.08 and 8.9 years.
since various stages of endometrial cancer exist, as well as the treatment options that work for each stage vary, these costs are not indicative of the overall impact of endometrial cancer on canadian society as a whole, but only when looking at two types of surgeries: staging and hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
resources and support for endometrial cancer in canada
several canadian cancer associations act as patient resource centres for those diagnosed with the disease. they include:
finding the proper supports after being diagnosed with endometrial cancer can make a big difference in the emotional and mental toll that the disease takes on people living with cancer, as well as their families and caregivers.
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