From the Research
Occupation and Cancer Risk after Hysterectomy
There is no direct evidence to suggest that occupation causes cancer after hysterectomy. However, some studies have investigated the risk of cancer after hysterectomy and found associations with certain types of cancer.
Types of Cancer Associated with Hysterectomy
- Thyroid cancer: Studies have found an increased risk of thyroid cancer after hysterectomy 1, 2, 3.
- Brain cancer: One study found an association between hysterectomy and brain cancer 1.
- Vaginal cancer: A case report found that HPV infection can cause vaginal cancer after complete hysterectomy 4.
- Breast cancer: Some studies have found no significant association between hysterectomy and breast cancer risk 2, 5, while another study found a lower risk of breast cancer in women who underwent hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy 5.
Factors Influencing Cancer Risk after Hysterectomy
- Indication for hysterectomy: The risk of thyroid cancer may be stronger for those who had a hysterectomy for menstrual disorders 3.
- Healthcare service use: More frequent use of healthcare services by women with hysterectomy may account for a small proportion of the association between hysterectomy and thyroid cancer 3.
- Hormonal factors: The observed increased risk of thyroid cancer among those with hysterectomy may be driven, at least partly, by an altered sex steroid hormone milieu 3.