Do You Know Gynecologic Cancer Risk Factors?
Gynecologic Cancer Risk Factors
There is no sure way to know for sure whether you will develop gynecologic cancer. In some cases, some women get cancer without being at high risk. However, there are some factors that may increase the risk of developing cancer. The following are some of those:
Certain Types of Viruses
There are some common viruses and their types that increase the risk of sexually transmitted infection in both men and women. For instance, a sexually transmitted human papillomavirus infection causes genital warts in human both men and women.
There are more than 150 related viruses in the HPV group. Some types of viruses cause a growth called papilloma. It is more commonly known as warts. A high-risk type of HPVs is linked to cancer. Such types can cause cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers in women and penile cancer in men. They are also involved in cancers of the throat, mouth (oral cancer), and anus. The high-risk types of viruses belonging to the HPV group include HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 33, and HPV 45.
Suppression of the Immune System
Damage caused to the body’s immune system can put a woman at a higher risk of HPV infections and cervical cancer. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, can increase this type of risk.
Smoking
Women who smoke are at an increased risk of getting cervical and other types of cancers. This is due to the fact that smoking makes the immune system weak.
Use of Birth control pills
Long-term use of birth control pills or oral contraceptives can put a woman at increased risk of getting gynecologic cancer.
Family History
Gynecologic cancer – especially, ovarian, breast, and cervical cancers—runs in families. If your siblings, sisters, or mother had gynecologic cancer, your risk of developing cancer also increases.
Age
Gynecologic cancer risk increases with age. Breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and uterine cancer risk increases after the age of 40 years. Most cervical and ovarian cancers develop after menopause. Around 50% of cancer diagnoses are made in women after the age of 60 years.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Women who take hormone replacement therapy after menopause have a higher risk of cancer. The risk will be higher if they take only estrogen hormone therapy or slightly less if they take both estrogen and progesterone hormones together.
The other risk factors for gynecologic cancers include:
- Nulliparity—never getting pregnant (not having children)
- Having trouble getting pregnant, or have had fewer than five periods in a year before starting menopause?
- Estrogen hormone therapy
- Early menarche and late menopause after age 55 years
- Excess body weight (Obesity or unhealthy body weight)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Excess blood sugar levels or uncontrolled diabetes
- A family history of endometrial or colon cancer
- Persistent HPV infection
Bottom Line
If any of the above factors or some of the above things seem to be true for you, it doesn’t mean that you will get gynecologic cancer. But you must talk to your female gynecologic oncologist to know whether she would recommend cancer screening.
