8 Most Common Uterine Cancer Risk Factors
Check out which groups of women face the highest risk for uterine cancer and which are the most frequent risk factors for this type of cancer.
Uterine cancer develops more often with women who never gave birth. (Photoxpress)
1.Uterine cancer risk factor: Early menstrual period or late menopause
Women who got their menstrual period very early (the average age for the first period is between 9 and 16 years) and women with late menopause (the average age for beginning of menopause is 51 years) face higher risk of developing uterine cancer. The main reason for development of uterine cancer is an increased level of estrogen which reduces if the menopause occurs at the average age. If it doesn't, then the estrogen increases and is higher than normal.
It is impossible to change the beginning of period or
menopause. The researches show that earlier periods and later menopause started to appear with industrial revolution. In the past, girls got their period at 16 years of age on average but a changed diet and improved medical care have reduced the age boundary considerably.
2.Uterine cancer risk factor: Women who never gave birth have too much estrogen
A woman who never gave birth has an increased level of estrogen in her body, which can cause many forms of cancer. Estrogen is a sort of growth hormone because it causes a fast development of cancerous cells and damages the immune system. It is an interesting fact that women who have 4 or 5 children face the least risk of uterine cancer. The reason for it lies in the fact that after pregnancy the hormonal balance changes in such a way that it prevents the development of uterine cancer.
3. Uterine cancer risk factor: Irregular periods
According to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, irregular periods pose another risk for development of uterine cancer because of the changed level of estrogen. Irregular periods destroy the balance between estrogen and progesterone which otherwise protect the body from uterine cancer.
4. Uterine cancer risk factor: Age and race
The aforementioned medical institute states that women after the age of 50 and those who have already passed the menopause are the most exposed to uterine cancer. The US research conducted between 1999 and 2006 showed that uterine cancer is more likely to develop with white women than other races. During the research period 3014 white women developed uterine cancer and only 784 Afro-American, 456 Latin American, 152 Asian, an only 26 Indian and Inuit women.
5. Uterine cancer risk factor: Medications and hormonal therapies
Uterine cancer is more likely to develop with women who never took contraceptive pills, while those who took pills for five or more years are supposedly especially protected. On the other hand, some medications increase the risk of uterine cancer.
Medication Tamoxifen, which is used for treating breast cancer, increases the possibility of uterine cancer, as well as estrogen supplements, which are taken by women who want to ease the negative effects of menopause.
6. Uterine cancer risk factor: Diabetes and hypertension
Diabetes and hypertension are interconnected, but the risk of uterine cancer is increased also with one disease. Diabetes increases the possibility of uterine cancer by two times, but the scientists are still not sure why. Because diabetics have an increased level of estrogen, this is one of the possible reasons.
7. Uterine cancer risk factor: Obesity and smoking
The risk of developing uterine cancer is also caused by obesity because the body fat changes the hormonal balance in the body. The Siteman Cancer Center discovered that regular smokers face less risk of developing uterine cancer. A medical study published in The New England Journal Of Medicine is not sure how to explain the results, which show that smokers have a reduced possibility of uterine cancer after 25 years of smoking.
According to doctors, body weight should also be taken into account. Obese women who smoke face a higher risk of developing uterine cancer than those who have normal weight. Women who smoke also increase the risk of HPV virus. HPV virus can cause genital warts that increase the risk of uterine cancer.
8. Uterine cancer risk factor: Family history and other diseases
As well as with every other disease, people who have a family history of uterine cancer are more likely to develop the disease. The risk factor is also higher if your relative (or you) suffered from endometriosis, infertility or breast cancer.
Encyclopedia also offers more information on breast cancer.
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