Obesity

Excess weight may increase your risk of uterine cancer, especially if you go through menopause early, prior to age 45. Obese may alter hormone levels, increasing exposure of the uterine lining to estrogen.

Medical Conditions and Treatments

Several medical conditions and treatments are associated with increased risk of uterine cancer. These include:

• Diabetes—The relationship between diabetes and increased uterine cancer risk is not clearly understood, but may also be related to obesity.
• Lynch syndrome—This is a rare, hereditary condition in which many family members develop colorectal and others. The lifetime risk of developing uterine cancer is close to 50% in women in these families.
• Tamoxifen use—A drug used in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.
• Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and granulose theca cell tumors of the ovary—the increased risk of uterine cancer is likely a result of increased estrogen levels.
• Menopausal use of estrogen without progesterone—Studies show an increased risk when estrogen is taken alone, without progesterone, for relief of menopause symptoms.
• Radiation therapy to the pelvic area—previous cancer treatment with radiation may increase your risk of uterine cancer.

Age

Uterine cancer occurs more frequently in older women. Eighty percent of women have gone through menopause. Only 5% of cases are diagnosed in women younger than 40, and these women usually have polycystic ovary syndrome.

Reproductive History

Women who have never been pregnant are a greater risk for uterine cancer. Progesterone levels increase during pregnancy, which may offer a protective benefit. Menstruating at an early age or a late menopause is also associated with increased risk. Both of these events increase a woman’s lifetime exposure to estrogen.