Endometrial/Uterine Cancer Prevention

Although uterine cancer is the most common female genital tract cancer in the United States, many of the associated risk factors can be prevented. Risk factors are listed from highest to lowest:

• Greater than 50 pounds overweight
• Unopposed estrogen use
• Tamoxifen use for more than 5 years
• Family history of Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer (Lynch Syndrome)
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Menopause after age 52

Maintaining a healthy weight and using combination hormone replacement therapy can help reduce your risk of endometrial cancer. In addition, the use of combination oral contraceptives by pre-menopausal women appears to confer a decreased risk of developing uterine cancer later in life.