Uterine Cancer (cont.)
Who is at risk for uterine cancer?
No one knows the exact causes of uterine cancer. However, it is clear that
this disease is not contagious. No one can "catch" cancer from another person.
Women who get this disease are more likely than other women to have certain
risk factors. A risk factor is something that increases a person's chance of
developing the disease.
Most women who have known risk factors do not get uterine cancer. On the
other hand, many who do get this disease have none of these factors. Doctors can
seldom explain why one woman gets uterine cancer and another does not.
Studies have found the following risk factors:
- Age. Cancer of the uterus occurs mostly in women over age 50.
- Endometrial hyperplasia. The risk of uterine cancer is higher if a
woman has endometrial hyperplasia. This condition and its treatment are
described above.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT is used to control the symptoms
of menopause, to prevent osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), and to reduce the
risk of heart disease or stroke.
Women who use estrogen without progesterone have an increased risk of uterine
cancer. Long-term use and large doses of estrogen seem to increase this risk.
Women who use a combination of estrogen and progesterone have a lower risk of
uterine cancer than women who use estrogen alone. The progesterone protects the
uterus.
Women should discuss the benefits and risks of HRT with their doctor. Also,
having regular checkups while taking HRT may improve the chance that the doctor
will find uterine cancer at an early stage, if it does develop.
- Obesity and related conditions. The body makes some of its estrogen in
fatty tissue. That's why obese women are more likely than thin women to have
higher levels of estrogen in their bodies. 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 (conditions that occur in many obese women).
- 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 monitor women
taking tamoxifen for possible signs or symptoms of uterine cancer.
The benefits of tamoxifen to treat breast cancer outweigh the risk of
developing other cancers. Still, each woman is different. Any woman considering
taking tamoxifen should discuss with the doctor her personal and family medical
history and her concerns.
- Race. White women are more likely than African-American women to get
uterine cancer.
- Colorectal cancer. Women who have had an inherited form of colorectal
cancer have a higher risk of developing uterine cancer than other women.
Other risk factors are related to how long a woman's body is exposed to
estrogen. Women who have no children, begin menstruation at a very young age, or
enter menopause late in life are exposed to estrogen longer and have a higher
risk.
Women with known risk factors and those who are concerned about uterine
cancer should ask their doctor about the symptoms to watch for and how often to
have checkups. The doctor's advice will be based on the woman's age, medical
history, and other factors.
Next: What are the symptoms of uterine cancer? »
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