Uterine cancer on the rise, particularly affecting Black women, doctors say

Health experts say Black women with the disease are nearly twice as likely to die from it than white women. A new study shows a common screening technique may be missing the disease in many Black patients.

“Cancer has had a phenomenal effect on my family,” Shirley Moore of Memphis, said. “I am one of the 21 children of my mother and father, and I’m the only one left.”

Moore said her mother died of uterine cancer when Moore was only 11 years old.

“It took her away from here, fast, quick and in a hurry,” she said. “And at a young age; only 50s.”

As the American Cancer Society says more people are dying from uterine cancer, a new report published in JAMA Oncology found that a transvaginal ultrasound, a common screening technique used to assess the risk of the disease, may be less effective in Black women.

“It’s suggested that there’s a higher prevalence of things like uterine fibroids, which make it harder to really assess the endometrium, which is the endometrial lining, the lining of the inside of the uterus,” Dr. Joel Finley said. 

Dr. Finley with Church Health in Memphis works to offer cancer screenings to uninsured patients.  He said some clinics use ultrasounds to determine if a patient needs more invasive testing. If the inner wall of patient’s uterus is too thick, a biopsy is typically ordered. But the new study says some Black women with the cancer have a thin uterine wall. That means the cancer could have been missed by an ultrasound alone.

“The real way to diagnose this is with tissue sampling,” Dr. Finley said. “You have to have a biopsy. An ultrasound just kind of lets you get a bird’s eye view of the area.”

Women FOX13 talked to said it’s a reminder to take charge of your health and pay attention to your body.

If you experience any unusual symptoms, tell your doctor immediately.

“How do we know what to advocate for if we’re not checking ourselves out and making sure that we receive the proper care just as men do,” Alyssa Hobbs of Memphis said.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are no standard screening tests for uterine cancer for women without symptoms.

However, if you are at higher risk for the disease or have symptoms, you should talk to a gynecologist about tests or exams you may need.