14. What is known about the occurrence of uterine cancer in different countries?

While the incidence of uterine cancer in this country has changed little in recent years, the prognosis for this disease has been improving. As a result, death rates have been declining, although it is still a major site of cancer among women.

In countries with high mortality for breast cancer, mortality for cancer of the uterus tends to be low. Contrariwise, the low breast cancer mortality in Japan is associated with an unusually high mortality from uterine cancer.

Canadian data indicate cervical cancer to be practically nonexistent among nuns, while data from England and Wales show an unusually high incidence among women who marry early. It is not clear whether the relationship involves primarily sexual experience (a gradient ranging from abstinence to promiscuity) or child-bearing. Danish and English experience indicate cervical cancer to be more common in the lower socioeconomic groups than the higher and in this country it is more common in low income groups than high. Cancer of the uterine corpus seems to present an entirely different epidemiological picture than cervical cancer. (Sources: Dorn, H. F.,

and Cutler, S. J., op. cit. Stocks, P., op. cit.)

15. What is known about the occurrence of liver cancer in different countries?

Cancer of the liver and biliary tract is of decreasing importance in the United States and many other countries. While this is largely attributable to a better recognition of other primary cancers, rather than a decrease in the incidence of primary liver cancer, some real decrease may in fact have occurred.

In some parts of Asia, Africa, and Malaya cancer of the liver is one of the most frequent types of cancer observed. In these areas it appears to be associated with certain nutritional deficiencies. Primary liver cancer seems to occur more frequently in areas where chronic malnutrition and, in particular, serious protein deficiency is widespread. Portal cirrhosis of the liver is suspected as a precursor of liver cancer in Europe and America, while in South and West Africa a severe cirrhosis of uncertain origin is implicated. It has also been suggested that certain liver parasites may produce cancer of the liver. (Sources: Dorn, H. F., and Cutler, S. J., op. cit. Stocks, P., op. cit.)