Bariatric Surgery Cuts Uterine Cancer Risk by 71 Percent, Researchers Find

Obese women undergoing bariatric surgery lower their risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer by 71 percent, researchers have found.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, found that a dramatic weight loss in obese women through bariatric surgery led to a fall in the risk of uterine cancer. The risk of developing the cancer fell by 81 percent if the women maintained healthy weight after surgery.

The research was based on data from 7,431,858 patients in the University HealthSystem Consortium.

"Estimating from various studies that looked at increasing BMI and endometrial cancer risk, a woman with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 would have approximately eight times greater risk of endometrial cancer than someone with a BMI of 25," said Kristy Ward, MD, at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "This risk likely continues to go up as BMI goes up."

Bariatric surgery is known to help people manage weight and even lowers risk of diabetes type-2 and heart disease. Previous research has shown that weight loss surgeries could help cut the risk of several types of cancer in obese people.

Uterine cancer affects the pear-shaped uterus located in a woman's pelvis. The cancer usually develops in post-menopausal women. Obesity or being on hormone treatment also increases uterine cancer risk.

The reduction in cancer risk among women undergoing bariatric surgery could be explained by changes in hormonal levels after the procedure. The weight loss surgery helps manage hormone levels reducing uterine cancer risk, researchers said.

Bariatric surgery involves stomach reduction using a gastric band or removal of a portion of the stomach. The surgery might look like an easy way to reduce weight but people undergoing this medical procedure need to follow dietary restriction to avoid weight gain in the future.