Ovarian Cancer Information

Summary | Risk Factors
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Doctors cannot always explain why one person gets cancer and another does not. However, scientists have studied general patterns of cancer in the population to learn what things around us and what things we do in our lives may increase our chance of developing cancer.

Anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor; anything that decreases a person's chance of developing a disease is called a protective factor. Some of the risk factors for cancer can be avoided, but many cannot. For example, although you can choose to quit smoking, you cannot choose which genes you have inherited from your parents. Both smoking and inheriting specific genes could be considered risk factors for certain kinds of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Prevention means avoiding the risk factors and increasing the protective factors that can be controlled so that the chance of developing cancer decreases.

Although many risk factors can be avoided, it is important to keep in mind that avoiding risk factors does not guarantee that you will not get cancer. Also, most people with a particular risk factor for cancer do not actually get the disease. Some people are more sensitive than others are to factors that can cause cancer. Talk to your doctor about methods of preventing cancer that might be effective for you.

Purposes of this summary

The purposes of this summary on ovarian cancer prevention are to:

• Give information on ovarian cancer and how often it occurs.
• Describe ovarian cancer prevention methods.
• Give current facts about which people or groups of people would most likely be helped by following ovarian cancer prevention methods.

You can talk to your doctor or health care professional about cancer prevention methods and whether they would be likely to help you.

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Ovarian cancer

The ovary is a female reproductive organ located in the pelvis. Its function is to produce female hormones and to store eggs that, if fertilized by sperm, can develop into a baby. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus.

Tumors found in the ovaries may be noncancerous tissue growths (cysts) or cancerous growths that may spread to other parts of the body.

Significance of ovarian cancer

In the United States, more women die of ovarian cancer each year than of cervical and endometrial cancers combined. Survival rates have not greatly improved, and screening has not been proven to decrease the death rate.

Ovarian cancer prevention

Ovarian cancer can sometimes be associated with known risk factors for the disease. Many risk factors are modifiable, though not all can be avoided.

Age: The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases as a woman gets older.

Oral Contraceptives: Studies suggest that the use of oral contraceptives may reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer. The longer you use oral contraceptives the lower your risk might be. The decrease in risk may last for a long time after the use of oral contraceptives has ended.

Childbearing and Breast-feeding: Women who have had at least one child are less likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who have never had children. Studies have also shown that women who breast-feed are less likely to develop ovarian cancer.

Tubal Ligation or Hysterectomy: Studies have shown that women who have undergone tubal ligation (sterilization) or hysterectomy are at decreased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Family History of Ovarian Cancer: A woman whose mother or sister has had ovarian cancer has a higher than average risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Prophylactic Oophorectomy: Sometimes women with a very strong family history of ovarian cancer decide to have prophylactic oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries). However, this has not been proven to avoid the risk of ovarian cancer, and ovarian removal can have unwanted effects. Careful discussion of pros and cons of this procedure is important before deciding if it is appropriate for you.

Hormone Replacement Therapy/Hormone Therapy: Hormone replacement therapy, also called hormone therapy, may be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women.

Fertility drug use has been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Other risk factors that have been suggested for ovarian cancer are the use of talcum powder in the area between the vagina and the anus and eating a high-fat diet. The exact relationship remains unclear.

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