women s health issues
Cancer of the Uterus
Causes of Uterine Cancer
Endometrial cancer is more common in high-resource countries where obesity rates are high. Risk factorsfor endometrial cancer are Conditions that result in a high level ofestrogenand a low level ofprogesterone Age over 45 Obesity Use oftamoxifenfor 2 years or longer A hereditary syndrome called Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma [HNPCC]) (people with this syndrome have a high risk of developing colon and other cancers) Radiation therapy of the pelvis (which contains the internal reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum) Conditions that result in a high level ofestrogenand a low level ofprogesteroneinclude the following: Obesity Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or Early start of menstrual periods (menarche), late menopause, or both Never being pregnant (nulliparity) Estrogentherapy (as a prescription or in herbal products) without a progestin (a synthetic medication similar to the hormoneprogesterone) taken after menopause Estrogen-producing tumor are high during part of the menstrual cycle. Thus, having more menstrual periods during a lifetime may increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Taking Oral Contraceptives that contain both Medications or herbal products that containestrogenor substances similar toestrogencan cause endometrial cancer if they are not taken with a progestin. Tamoxifen, a medication used to treat breast cancer, blocks the effects ofestrogenin the breast, but it has the same effects asestrogenin the uterus. People with breast cancer are not usually given progestins (to balance the effects ofestrogen). Thus, this medication may increase the risk of endometrial cancer, mostly in postmenopausal women. Women taking thistamoxifenshould contact a health care practitioner if they have abnormal vaginal bleeding. In approximately 5% of women with endometrial cancer, heredity plays a role. About half of endometrial cancers that involve heredity occur in women who have a hereditary syndrome called Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma [HNPCC]) . People with this syndrome have a high risk of developing colon and other cancers. 