How to understand the causes of Endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer encompasses different types of cancer that begins in the lining of the uterus. In the US alone, over 35,000 women per year are diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer may begin with the uterus or can also develop from cervical cancer, trophoblastic disease, sarcoma of the myometrium, or from other tissues nearby the uterus. Endometrial cancer is often called uterine cancer.

The causes of endometrial cancer are unknown; however, there are risk factors that increase the chances of developing this type of cancer. For women without any of these risk factors, none has developed endometrial cancer; however, not all women with endometrial cancer have all the risk factors.

Determining which woman will or will not develop endometrial cancer is impossible.

Risk Factors include:

Age

Endometrial cancer is seen more often in women after they reach the age of 50.

Endometrial hyperplasia

Women with endometrial hyperplasia have a higher risk of developing endometrial cancer. Endometrial hyperplasia is excessive cell growth in the lining of the uterus.

Obesity

Women that are obese are more likely to develop endometrial cancer due to the higher content of estrogen in their bodies than thinner women.

Hormone Replacement

Women that are using estrogen without progesterone have a higher risk of endometrial cancer. However, for women that use a combination of both estrogen and progesterone have a lower risk. The reason this is true is that progesterone aids in protecting the uterus.

Tamoxifen

Women that are taking this drug to aid in the prevention of breast cancer have a higher risk of developing endometrial cancer.

Other risk factors include women who have previous had a type of inherited colorectal cancer, Caucasian women are more apt to develop endometrial cancer than African Americans, women who have never had children, women who started menstruation before age 12, and women that entered menopause after age 55.

There are a few other risk factors that doctors also have noted with women with endometrial cancer, which include hypertension, nulliparity, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, infertility, breast cancer history, ovarian cancer history, high intake of alcohol daily, and the high intake of animal fat.
Of course, if a woman is concerned about developing endometrial cancer she should discuss this with her physician. You should watch for symptoms of endometrial cancer, which include unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, difficult or painful urination, pain during intercourse, and pain in the pelvic area. If you have, any of the symptoms following up with your physician is very important. Other diseases also have some of the same symptoms; however, diagnosing endometrial cancer as early as possible provides a better prognosis.