Uterine Cancer Risk Factors: Age
Uterine cancer, also known as endometrial cancer or cancer of the uterus, occurs mostly in women over 50 years of age.
Uterine Cancer Risk Factors: Endometrial Hyperplasia
The risk of uterine cancer is higher if a woman has endometrial hyperplasia, which is a condition that occurs when the lining of the uterus grows too much.
Uterine Cancer Risk Factors: Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (
HRT) is sometimes used to control the
symptoms of menopause. Women who use estrogen without progesterone have an increased risk of uterine cancer. Women who use a combination of estrogen and progesterone have a lower risk of uterine cancer than women who use estrogen alone because progesterone protects the uterus. Women who are taking hormone replacement therapy should discuss the benefits and risks of HRT with their doctor and have regular checkups, which may improve the chance that the doctor will find uterine cancer at an early stage, if it does develop.
Uterine Cancer Risk Factors: Obesity and Related Conditions
The body makes some of its estrogen in fatty tissue, which is why obese women are more likely to have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies than women who are at a healthy weight. High levels of estrogen may be the reason that obese women have an increased risk of developing uterine cancer. The risk of this disease is also higher in women with
diabetes or
high blood pressure, which are conditions that occur in many obese women.
Uterine Cancer Risk Factors: Tamoxifen
Women taking the drug
tamoxifen to prevent or treat
breast cancer have an increased risk of uterine cancer. This risk appears to be related to the estrogen-like effect of this drug on the uterus. Doctors need to monitor women who are taking tamoxifen for possible signs and symptoms of uterine cancer. Most doctors believe that the benefits of tamoxifen to treat breast cancer outweigh the risk of developing other cancers. However, all women who are considering taking tamoxifen should talk to their doctor about their concerns.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print