Uterine Cancer

 

Cancer of the uterus is actually divided into two areas separated by anatomical differences:  Endometrial cancer and cervical cancer.  

 

The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus.  Cancer of the endometrium is strongly associated with estrogen usage.  This is particularly true if the estrogen is not matched up with a progestin component.

 

The cervix is the very tip of the uterus.  Cancer of the cervix is strongly associated with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).  The famous PAP smear screens for this type of cancer and has been highly successful in early detection. 

 

Hormones don’t really play a role in cervical cancer, so for the remainder of this text we’ll just discuss endometrial cancer.

 

The focus of birth control pills (BCP’s) and hormones on endometrial cancer has been controversial.  Prior to 1983, a certain type of birth control pill, called sequential oral contraceptives, delivered only one hormone in the first 14 – 16 days of the cycle – estrogen (actually a synthetic, chemically altered estrogen).  The latter half of the pill regimen contained a combination of an estrogen and a chemically altered progestin.

 

In a landmark 1983 study, it was shown this type of BCP was associated with a doubled risk of endometrial cancer.  As a result, these BCP’s were taken off the market, forcing drug manufacturers to re-engineer their oral contraceptive strategy.

 

The result was an oral contraceptive that contained both a synthetic estrogen and progestin throughout the entire pill cycle.  Called combination oral contraceptives (COC), these were more successful at reducing the risk of endometrial cancer.

 

In fact, mainstream medicine cites an actual lower risk of endometrial cancer by taking the newer generation BCP’s.  In the journal, Pharmacology Toxicology, published in early 2006, the authors point out that there is a 50% lower risk of endometrial cancer when women use COC’s. 

 

Unfortunately, in the same study, the authors state that “estrogen therapy increases endometrial cancer risk dramatically.”  They go on to say that:

 

“Combined estrogen and progestin therapy increases breast cancer risk by as much as 10% per year of use.” 

 

It seems these researchers are trying to cover all bases at once – giving opposing results and conclusions all in the very same breath.