Uncontrollably High Estrogen Levels Are Not the Only Cause Uterine Cancer

The most common type of uterine cancer is a cancer of the lining tissue called the endometrium.

Uncontrollably high levels cause estrogen excess, either naturally without much progesterone or due to imbalanced estrogen ‘unopposed estrogen’ (or hormone therapy with estrogen alone) is the cause of uterine cancer.

The theory that estrogen causes uterine cancer is being challenged. Many women with high estrogen levels don’t in fact have uterine cancer. So other factors may be a cause. Inflammation, either in the body or in the uterus itself is now thought to be the more likely cause and a simpler strategy for reducing that cause would be to reduce inflammation. These situations of chronic inflammation that can ultimately damage DNA and incite the cancerous process Inflammation can be due to a variety of poor health habits: too many PPI, gut dysbiosis, poor nutrition, smoking, untreated or poorly controlled medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, hormone imbalance, and lack of vitamins or supplements.

Uterine cancer is still the most common pelvic cancer in women. There are 60,000 new cases in the USA this year. The average woman has a lifetime risk of 1/38 of getting uterine cancer, which is considerably less than the 1/8 who get breast cancer, and double the 1/70 risk of ovarian cancer.

Since risk factors for endometrial cancer, or lining cancer of the uterus (the most common type) include the precursor conditions which are thicker lining of the uterus or uterine polyps, medical conditions listed as possible cause include diabetes, being over weight, and irregular periods, there are many women with potentially treatable conditions, all of which are related to inflammation in the body as well, that still put a woman at risk for this cancer.

Previously gynos have suggested that the best protection factors against uterine cancer include birth control pills, eating well, normalizing your weight and having had children, but general health strategies are important as well.

The fix may be simple. For some it’s going to be quitting smoking for instance. And there has also been studies that show if you can spare 20 minutes a day for exercise it will also lower your risk. Now there is an extra way to protect your uterus: use the anti-inflammation treatment of aspirin. Low dose aspirin has been shown that adding this treatment into women with uterine cancer actually improves cancer survival. This in consistent with medical studies that have shown low dose aspirin can reduce your chances of getting colon cancer and in one new study it also has reduced the risk of breast cancer. So time to come in and discuss with your gyno! Womenshealthpractice.com