Gynecologic Oncology Program
Patient and Family Education
Endometrial Cancer
Risk Factors
Although the exact causes of endometrial cancer are not known, we do know that
prolonged exposure to the female hormone estrogen increases a womans risk
of developing the disease.
Many of the risk factors for developing endometrial cancer are related to changes
in womens production of hormones.
Risk factors include the following:
- Late menopause or early onset of periods: The endometrium is exposed
to estrogen during a womans menstrual cycle, so women who start menstruating
early or who stop menstruating late are exposed to more estrogen and thus
have a greater risk of developing endometrial cancer.
- Not being pregnant: Because women produce more progesterone and less
estrogen during pregnancy, pregnancy actually reduces the risk of developing
endometrial cancer. Conversely, not having become pregnant or completing a
pregnancy is a risk factor for the disease.
- Tamoxifen: Recent research suggests that taking the drug Tamoxifen,
which lowers a womans risk for breast cancer, may slightly increase
the risk of developing cancer of the endometrium. Women who take Tamoxifen
should have yearly pelvic exams and report any abnormal bleeding to their
doctors.
- Estrogen replacement: Estrogen replacement therapy, an approach to
treating some of the symptoms and effects of menopause, may increase a womans
risk of developing endometrial cancer, if estrogen is given alone. However,
this risk is reduced if both estrogens and progestens are replaced.
- Obesity: Because fat tissues can convert some hormones into estrogens,
being very overweight may increase a womans chances of developing endometrial
cancer.
- Age, race, and socioeconomic status: The average age at diagnosis
of endometrial cancer is 60. White women are 70 percent more likely to develop
endometrial cancer than are African American women. Women who are well-off
are more likely to develop the disease than are poor women.
- Personal and family history: Women who have had breast or ovarian
cancer and women with a family history of endometrial cancer are more likely
to get the disease.
This page was last updated on: October 6, 2009.
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