As much as you may love a cold Coke or a glass of sweet tea, you probably know that these sugary beverages have their health risks. The Harvard School of Public Health notes that sugary beverage intake can double your risk of developing type-2 diabetes, as well as increase your risk of developing heart disease.
A recent study funded by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) found that women who consume sugary beverages might also be at higher risk for developing endometrial cancer.
The study, published online in the November 22nd edition of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, collected data from 23,000 postmenopausal women from 1986 to 2010.
The study shows that women who drank the most soda and other sugary beverages had a 78% higher risk of developing type-1 endometrial cancer.
Type-1 endometrial cancer is a slow growing, estrogen-dependent cancer of the uterus that usually affects women in their 60s and 70s.
Researcher Maki Inoue-Choi, a postdoctoral fellow at the NCI, notes that the findings of the study reinforce what researchers already know about sugary drinks and endometrial cancer.
Research shows that sugary drink intake and obesity are parallel; the more sugary drinks a woman consumes, the more likely she is to develop obesity. Obese women have higher rates of insulin and estrogen in their blood streams. These high levels of estrogen and insulin are established risk factors in developing endometrial cancer.
While the research strengthens the relationship between sugary drinks and endometrial cancer, it doesn’t prove that consuming these drinks is a direct risk factor in developing endometrial cancer.
Inoue-Choi though notes that the study does remind women that a large intake of sugary drinks contributes to overconsumption of calories. Too much sugar may be a risk factor in developing not only various types of cancer, but also developing obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Understanding risk factors for endometrial cancer is an important public health concern. The NCI reports that endometrial cancer is the most common type cancer that occurs in the female reproductive system. It makes up an estimated 6% of all cancer cases that affect women in the United States, and its occurrence is increasing across the population.
There are some factors that the NCI notes reduce the rate of endometrial cancer, including:
- Regular physical activity
- A history of pregnancy
- A history of breastfeeding
- Taking combination oral contraceptives.
According to the American Cancer Society, most endometrial cancer is detected because a woman exhibits symptoms that include:
- Weight loss
- Abnormal bleeding, even after menopause
- A lump in the pelvis
- Pelvic pain.
The risk of endometrial cancer is a reminder that a yearly womens’ preventive care checkup is important, regardless of age. The Gainesville and Lake City offices of All About Women are here to provide compassionate gynecological care to women through all stages of life. Contact our office if you have abnormal symptoms you’re concerned about, or to schedule a routine well woman exam.
