Causes
Who is more likely to get womb cancer
Womb cancer is most common in women who've been through menopause. It can affect anyone with a womb.
You cannot get womb cancer if you've had surgery to remove your womb (hysterectomy).
Having a high level of a hormone called oestrogen is one of the main things that can increase your chance of getting womb cancer.
You may have high levels of oestrogen if you:
- are overweight
- take some types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- have never given birth
- have polycystic ovary syndrome
- went through the menopause after the age of 55
You might also be more likely to get womb cancer if you have:
- diabetes
- a family history of bowel, ovarian or womb cancer
- inherited a rare gene that causes Lynch syndrome
- taken medicines like Tamoxifen (used to treat breast cancer)
- had radiotherapy on your pelvis
How to lower your risk of getting womb cancer
You cannot always prevent womb cancer, but there are things you can do to lower your chance of getting it.
Do
-
make sure you're a healthy weight
-
stay active and do regular exercise
-
have a healthy diet and cut down on alcohol
-
talk to a GP about a type of contraception that may lower your chance of getting womb cancer
-
talk to a GP about which HRT is best for you if you are thinking about taking HRT
It's important to get any symptoms of womb cancer checked by a GP.
Page last reviewed: 1 August 2019
Next review due: 1 August 2019