Uterine Cancer Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chances of developing a disease. In the case of uterine cancer, risk factors include such things as being over 50 years of age, having endometrial hyperplasia, taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and being obese. Other uterine cancer risk factors include being Caucasian, taking tamoxifen, and having an inherited form of colorectal cancer.

Cancer of the Uterus

Uterine Cancer Risk Factors: An Introduction

No one knows the exact cause of uterine cancer, and doctors can seldom explain why one person will get this disease and another person will not. However, uterine cancer research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop the disease. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chances of developing a disease.

Most cases of uterine cancer occur in the lining (endometrium) of the uterus. This article uses the term "uterine cancer" to refer to this type of cancer, also known as endometrial cancer. This article does not discuss a rare type of uterine cancer that can occur in the muscles or other tissues that support the uterus. Click Uterine Sarcoma for more information on this topic.

Specific uterine cancer risk factors include:

Being over 50 years of age
Having endometrial hyperplasia
Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Being obese (or having obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes)
Being Caucasian
Taking tamoxifen
Having an inherited form of colorectal cancer
Being exposed to estrogen for a prolonged period (for example, entering menopause late in life).

(Uterine Cancer Risk Factors Continued: Page 2)