Uterine cancer is the most common cancer of women's reproductive organs, with 43,470 new cases diagnosed in 2010 and 7,950 deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. Women often turn to alternative therapies and lifestyle changes in an effort to prevent and treat the disease. Researchers studying the effects of foods and beverages like coffee for their disease-fighting potential have discovered that coffee may have compounds that can fight various cancers, including cancers of the uterus.
Identification
There are several types of uterine cancer, although close to 95 percent are endometrial cancers, which affect the lining of the uterus, or endometrium. The majority of cases occur in postmenopausal women, with a high survival rate of 84 percent overall, or closer to 95 percent when caught early, according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Symptoms include unusual bleeding or vaginal discharge, pelvic pain or pressure, bloating and unexplained weight loss.
Significance
Obesity is consistently associated with endometrial cancer, with obese women having a two to four times greater risk of developing the disease regardless of menopausal status, as reported in the "International Journal of Cancer." Insulin resistance, where the natural hormone insulin becomes less effective at lowering blood sugars, has been associated with obesity and endometrial cancer risk. Coffee appears to be beneficial at helping reduce insulin resistance. The caffeine in coffee also prompts certain enzymes to help neutralize cancer-causing substances in your body, while various antioxidant compounds in coffee, such as flavonoids, catechins and isoflavones, may help protect cells from damage that can eventually lead to cancer.
Expert Insight
In a study published in the "International Journal of Cancer" in 2009, researchers found that among nearly 1,100 women surveyed, women who drank more than four cups of coffee and tea each day were only half as likely as non-drinkers to have endometrial cancer. In a separate study of more than 20,000 postmenopausal women, those who drank more than 2.5 cups of coffee daily had a significantly lower risk of endometrial cancer, compared with women who didn't drink coffee. The results from that study, sponsored by the Mayo Clinic, were presented in April 2010 at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists.
Considerations
Although coffee may have a preventive effect on the development of uterine cancer, as of May 2011, no studies have been conducted proving that coffee consumption is a cure for the disease. If you have been diagnosed with uterine cancer or have symptoms, check with your doctor about your treatment options and don't rely upon coffee or any other food or supplements in place of proven traditional therapies.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Endometrial Cancer
- National Cancer Insitute: Obesity and Cancer: Questions and Answers
- "International Journal of Cancer"; Coffee Drinking and Risk of Endometrial Cancer -- A Population-Based Cohort Study; Emilie Friberg, et al.; November 2009
- "Family Practice News"; Coffee May Reduce Endometrial Cancer Risk; Heidi Splete; April 2010
- MD Anderson Cancer Center: Uterine Cancer
