Trends in incidence of and mortality from uterine and ovarian cancer in Mid and South Limburg, The Netherlands, 1986-2003.

The prevalence of risk factors for endometrial and ovarian cancer, such as obesity, oral contraceptive use and parity has changed among Dutch women. Therefore, trends in age-specific incidence and mortality from endometrial and ovarian cancer were studied between 1986 and 2003 in the region of the Maastricht Cancer Registry. Trends were standardized to the European population and were examined by the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). The overall incidence and mortality from endometrial cancer increased in the period 1993-2003 by 3.4% (P=0.03) and 4.0% (P=0.04), respectively. The increasing incidence trend was observed in stages II and III tumours. Overall incidence trends of ovarian cancer declined after 1992 by 2.6% (P=0.03) and overall mortality after 1991 by 1.7% (P=0.04). The increasing prevalence of obesity might explain the increasing trends in endometrial cancer. Parity and increased oral contraceptive use could possibly explain the decline in ovarian cancer.