Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Causes of Cancer of the uterus

It is not known what causes endometrial cancer, but there are a number of risk factors. Those most commonly affected are between the ages of 50 and 70 and have been through the menopause.

It is thought that having a high amount of the female hormone oestrogen in your body for a significant amount of time may increase the risk of getting cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer). This means that women who have never been pregnant, had a late menopause (after the age of about 52), or started their periods early, are at a slightly higher risk.

If you are taking HRT (hormone replacement therapy) you need to make sure the type of HRT you are taking is suitable for you. Women who are taking HRT that does not contain the hormone progestogen may be at a higher risk of getting endometrial cancer, unless they have already had a hysterectomy. Women taking HRT with both oestrogen and progestogen are at slightly less risk of getting endometrial cancer. Your GP will take these factors into account when prescribing your HRT.

If you have been receiving treatment with the hormone tamoxifen for breast cancer, this may slightly increase your risk of endometrial cancer, because it may have a similar effect to oestrogen. The risk is small compared to the benefits of using tamoxifen to treat breast cancer.

Women who are overweight, have diabetes or high blood pressure, growths on the ovaries that produce oestrogen, endometrial hyperplasia (a non cancerous condition where the womb lining builds up more than usual) or polycystic ovary syndrome are also at a higher risk.

You may be at a higher risk of endometrial cancer if anyone in your family has had endometrial, breast, ovary, stomach or colon cancer, or if you have personally had breast or colon cancer.

If you are taking the combined contraceptive pill this may decrease your chances of developing endometrial cancer. This effect lasts for a few years after you stop taking the pill.

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