Endometrial Cancer Risk Factors  

The most common causative factors for endometrial cancer include:  

Age - the average age of endometrial cancer patients is 61 with a majority of cases lie between 50 and 69 years. 5% of endometrial cancers are diagnosed before 40 years old, 25% before menopause. Women over 50 are more at risk of the disease.  

Race – endometrial cancer is more common among white women living in Western countries. 

Infertility - if you have not had children, you have three to eight times more chance to develop endometrial cancer compared to women who had.  

High estrogen levels – endometrial cancer is hormone-dependent; therefore, its occurrence is favored by high estrogen levels in the blood.  

Certain diseases - certain medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, under active thyroid and disorder of the gallbladder increase the risk of developing endometrial cancer.  

Endometrial disease - if you have endometrial hyperplasia, your risk to have endometrial cancer increases. 

Family history - If you have a personal or family history of endometrial cancer or colon cancer, you are at greater risk.  

Overweight - Your body produces some of its estrogen in the fatty tissues; therefore, obesity or excess weight can cause an increased production of estrogen, which may contribute to the occurrence of endometrial cancer.  

Estrogen-only replacement therapy - hormone replacement therapy consists of estrogen without progesterone increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer in a ratio of approximately 120% for each period of five years of use.  However, when estrogen is associated with progesterone, the therapy is safe.   

Early first menstruation or late menopause - if you had your first menstruation at a young age (before age 12 for instance) and going through menopause at a late age, you are at greater risk of becoming an endometrial cancer victim.  

Physical inactivity - sedentary lifestyle is the enemy of your body. It causes excess weight, cardiovascular problems, and much more. Physical activity, in the other hand, controls the production of estrogen produced by the ovaries and reduces the risk of endometrial cancer.  

Certain medications - If you have been treated with tamoxifen to prevent or treat breast cancer, you have twice the risk of developing endometrial cancer.  

Fatty foods – besides endometrial cancer, consumption of foods rich in unhealthy fats and red meat are likely to cause many cancers.  

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