Hair Straighteners: What’s the Impact on Uterine Cancer Risk?

In a recent National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) study with nearly 34,000 women, researchers discovered that women who use hair straightening products are more likely to develop uterine cancer. Applying the products at least four times a year doubles the risk of the disease.

That can sound scary. But it’s important to look at the number of women affected, explains Susan C. Modesitt, MD, leader of the gynecologic oncology program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Within the study, only 387 women developed uterine cancer. Based on the results, only 1.64% of women in the study who said they never use the products developed the disease. Among frequent users, the rate rose to 4.05%.

“There’s much attention being given to the increased risk that comes with using these products. But even a roughly double risk is minimal when the risk for women who never use hair straighteners is less than 2%,” she says. “Ultimately, the difference created by these hair straighteners is pretty tiny.”

An Impact on Your Hormones

Hair straighteners do impact your hormones, Dr. Modesitt says. Some ingredients can increase your levels of the sex hormones estrogen and androgen. When you have higher levels, you’re more vulnerable to hormone-related cancers like uterine cancer.

This is especially the case for Black women. They tend to develop more aggressive uterine cancer and are twice as likely as other racial or ethnic groups to die from the disease. Plus, most women who use hair straightening products are Black.

So, even though the risk is small, should you give up this part of your hair care?

“Most people will ask if they should stop using their hair straightener. That’s the million-dollar question, and I don’t have an answer for it,” Dr. Modesitt says. “I think women can feel somewhat reassured that they are not putting themselves at extreme risk using these products. But I do think giving it up is something to think about.”

To better understand your chances of developing uterine cancer, there are many other risk factors and symptoms you should discuss with your doctor during your annual visit to your primary care provider or OB/GYN, she explains.

The Biggest Uterine Cancer Risk Factors

Several factors can increase your risk of developing uterine cancer. There aren’t any screening tests for uterine cancer, so during your well-woman visit, be sure to talk with your doctor about:

• Obesity: Approximately 70% of uterine cancer cases are linked to having a high body mass index (BMI). Too much fatty tissue increases the amount of estrogen your body produces, boosting uterine cancer risk.
• Age: Most cases occur after age 50, with 60 being the average age at diagnosis.
• Race: Even though uterine cancer is more common among white women, Black women develop more aggressive disease and are frequently diagnosed in a more advanced stage.

Other risk factors can include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• History of breast, colon or ovarian cancer
• Tamoxifen use to prevent breast cancer
• Radiation therapy
• Estrogen imbalance

Signs of Uterine Cancer

The number one sign of uterine cancer is abnormal or unexpected vaginal bleeding. If this happens to you, Dr. Modesitt says, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

“If you’re pre-menopausal and suddenly have heavier periods or bleeding between periods, immediately bring it up with your doctor,” she explains. “If you’ve gone through menopause and have any speck of vaginal bleeding at all, make sure you get evaluated for potential cancer.”

Pain or pressure in your pelvis — even without bleeding — is another sign you should mention to your doctor.

Treatment Options

If you’re diagnosed with uterine cancer, the good news is that you have several treatment options. Surgery is frequently the best choice for cancers diagnosed early.

“If women watch out for the signs of uterine cancer, we can catch their cancer very early,” Dr. Modesitt says. “At that point, we can typically cure it with surgery alone. But it’s important to remember that surgery often results in infertility.”

Depending on your diagnosis, your surgical options include:

• Simple hysterectomy: Removal of your uterus and cervix
• Radical hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus, cervix, tissue around the cervix, upper vagina
• Salpingo-oophorectomy: Removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
• Lymph node dissection: Removal of the lymph nodes in the pelvis

Your doctor may also recommend radiation therapy and chemotherapy to treat your cancer or reduce the likelihood that it will come back.

Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University offers patients the most advanced treatment options. Together, our board-certified, fellowship-trained gynecological specialists are investigating new therapies that offer a more personalized approach to uterine cancer treatment. These include:

• Immunotherapy: Emory currently has two open clinical trials examining the effectiveness of immunotherapy drugs. Both trials — one with the drugs olaparib and cediranib and another with pembrolizumab, paclitaxel and carboplatin — are investigating whether these medications can improve survival in women with uterine cancer that has returned or spread.
• Hormonal therapy: This is not the same hormone therapy given to women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause. Instead, it is for patients still in their childbearing years. At Winship, researchers are actively investigating whether it’s possible to use hormonal therapy to treat early-stage disease without performing a hysterectomy. With this type of treatment, we can potentially preserve fertility.
• Targeted therapy: Researchers at Winship are focusing on specific characteristics of tumors that may make them particularly vulnerable to a variety of available oncology drugs. This approach lets us tailor our treatment to a patient’s individual cancer. As a result, we may be able to treat your cancer with fewer side effects.

Visit the Winship website to learn more about uterine cancer.

Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University is Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a prestigious distinction given to the top 3% of cancer centers nationwide for conducting cancer research and providing training that is transforming cancer care, prevention, detection and survivorship. Winship discovers, develops, delivers and teaches some of the world’s most effective ways to prevent, detect, diagnose and treat each patient’s unique cancer. Cancer care at Winship includes specialists with deep expertise and experience in cancer; multidisciplinary evaluation, treatment planning and care coordination that caters to each patient’s individual needs; therapies supported by the latest advances in cancer research; and comprehensive support services.