Dr Rajesh Tekchandani
Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer. It is the cancer that starts in the inner lining of the uterus known as endometrium. There are no known definite causes of this type of cancer. If you want to know what causes womb cancer and its related aspects do read further.
What is Endometrial Cancer?
Cancer that develops in the inner lining of the uterus is termed as endometrial cancer. It is the most common type of uterine cancer. The
uterus is a small organ in which the fetus develops. Exact causes of this type of cancer are not known but estrogen is believed to play a critical role in this. Estrogen plays an important role in building the lining of the uterus. Studies conducted on animals have indicated that higher levels of estrogen results in excessive growth of this wall and even cancer. Most of the cases of endometrial cancer are reported in the age group of 60-70 years but the likelihood of it affecting younger patients can be completely ruled out.
The risk of getting endometrial cancer increases in case of following medical conditions:
- Hormonal Factors
Hormones have a critical role to play in development of this type of cancer. Any kind of shift in the balance between estrogen and progesterone in a female’s body can increase the risk of acquiring endometrial cancer. Polycystic ovarian syndrome which again reflects an imbalance in hormones in a female body which can again increases chances of getting endometrial cancer.
Use of estrogen alone to deal with the effects of menopause may not be good for women who still have a uterus. It is important that hormone therapy be taken for minimum period and in minimum necessary quantity.
- Menstrual Cycle
Having a higher number of menstrual cycles in a lifetime which could be due to starting early with menstrual cycle or a delayed menopause, irregular menstrual cycles, excessive bleeding, spotting all need to be paid attention to
- Pregnancy
Women who have never conceived have a higher risk of endometrial cancer
- Age
The chances of acquiring endometrial cancer increase as the age of a woman increases.
- Diet and Exercise
The relationship between diet and exercise on one hand and health is well known. A diet high in fat content increases a person’s vulnerability to many types of cancers including endometrial. Foods high in fat content and calories can lead to obesity and other ailments like high blood pressure which can be an invitation for endometrial cancer. Exercise or higher physical activity is known to prevent against cancer and the same holds true for endometrial cancer too.
- Diabetes
Women complaining of diabetes have relatively risk of acquiring endometrial cancer. This risk further increases in the case of obese women.
- Endometrial Hyperplasia
This refers to an increased growth of the inner lining of the uterus. Mild hyperplasia has a smaller risk of developing in to a cancerous growth but an ‘atypical’ hyperplasia has chances of developing as a cancerous growth.
In addition to the above factors few other factors could also cause womb cancer such as prior exposure to radiation, breast cancer and its treatment, ovarian cancer and family history for endometrial cancer increase a person’s vulnerability to this type of cancer.
Meetu Nayyar
