Weight: Obesity (being overweight) is a risk factor because having more fat tissue can increase a woman's estrogen levels.
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT): This is used to offset the effects of menopause. Use of estrogen hormonal therapy without the use of progesterone increases a woman's risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Tamoxifen: This is a drug that is used to treat breast cancer. Because the drug acts like estrogen in the uterus, it can cause the uterine lining to grow and increase the risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Personal/Family History: A personal or family history of colon, endometrial, or ovarian cancer may indicate Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome). Women with Lynch syndrome have a very high risk of developing endometrial cancer.
Age: As a woman ages, her chance of getting endometrial cancer increases. More than 95 percent of endometrial cancers occur in women age 40 and older.
Diabetes: This is a risk factor for endometrial cancer whether or not a woman is obese.
Ovarian diseases: Certain ovarian tumors produce estrogen and can cause an increase in estrogen levels.
Complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia: This is a precancerous condition that may become cancerous if left untreated. Simple hyperplasia rarely becomes cancerous and can go away on its own or with hormonal treatment.
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