Uterine Cancer FAQs: Possible Causes and Prevention
Scientists at hospitals and medical centers all across the country are studying uterine cancer. They are trying to learn more about what causes the disease and how to prevent it.At this time, we do not know exactly what causes uterine cancer, and doctors can seldom explain why one woman gets this disease and another does not. It is clear, however, that uterine cancer is not caused by an injury, and is not contagious; no one can "catch" uterine cancer from another person.
By studying patterns of cancer in the population, researchers have found certain factors that are more common in women who get uterine cancer than in those who don't get this disease. It is important to know that most women with these risk factors do not get cancer, and many who do get uterine cancer have none of these factors.
The following are some of the known risk factors for Uterine Cancer:
- Age- Cancer of the uterus is most common in women over
age 50.
- Endometrial hyperplasia- Women who have endometrial
hyperplasia have a higher risk of developing uterine cancer. This
condition and its treatment are described in the What
Is Cancer? section.
- Estrogen replacement therapy- Women who use estrogen
replacement therapy to control symptoms associated with
menopause, to prevent
osteoporosis (thinning
of the bones), or to reduce the risk of heart
disease or stroke may have an increased risk of uterine
cancer. Long-term treatment and large doses seem to increase this
risk. Using a combination of estrogen and progesterone decreases
the risk linked to the use of estrogen alone. The progesterone
protects the endometrium from the cancer-causing effect of
estrogen. A woman considering hormone replacement therapy should
discuss the benefits and risks with her doctor. Regular follow-up
visits with a health professional while taking estrogen
replacement therapy may improve the chances of detecting and
treating uterine cancer in the early stages should it
develop.
- Overweight- Scientists believe that too much estrogen
may be the reason why overweight women are more than twice as
likely to develop uterine cancer as women of normal weight.
Because fat converts certain hormones into a form of estrogen,
women with excess fat produce higher levels of estrogen.
- Diabetes and high blood pressure- Some studies suggest
that diabetes and high
blood pressure increase the risk of uterine cancer. Because
these conditions often occur in overweight people, researchers
cannot be certain whether the conditions themselves or the
relationship between body fat and estrogen levels increases
uterine cancer risk.
- Other cancers- Women with a history of colon
cancer, rectal cancer, or breast
cancer have a slightly higher risk of developing uterine
cancer than do most other women. Women who have had uterine cancer
also have an increased risk of developing certain other cancers.
- Tamoxifen- An increased risk of developing uterine
cancer has been found in women taking the drug tamoxifen for the
treatment of breast cancer. This risk may be related to the
estrogen-like effect of this drug on the uterus. Women taking
tamoxifen should be
closely monitored by the doctor for possible signs or symptoms of
uterine cancer. Doctors emphasize that the benefits of tamoxifen
as a treatment for breast cancer are firmly established and far
outweigh the potential risk of other cancers.
- Race- White women have a greater chance of developing uterine cancer than black women.
Other risk factors for uterine cancer are also related to estrogen, including having few or no children or entering menopause late in life. Some studies of women who have used oral contraceptives that combine estrogen and progesterone show that these women have a lower than average risk of uterine cancer.
Women with known risk factors and those who are concerned about uterine cancer should talk with their doctor about the disease, the symptoms to watch for, and an appropriate schedule for checkups. The doctor's advice will be based on the woman's age, medical history, and other factors.
Reprinted from the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
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