Since there is no screening test for ovarian cancer understanding your risk for the disease is important.
Family history is a strong risk factor for being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Does your family - mother, sibling or daughter have ovarian cancer? According to the American Cancer Society your risk is 4 times the general population. If your mother, sister or daughter has been diagnosed with breast cancer your risk is increased by 70%. This increased risk is due to mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. If you are of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry you have a 1 in 40 chance of having a BRCA1 mutation placing you at risk for ovarian cancer and breast cancer. There are a number of online resources that can help you have that conversation with relatives about family history. The CDC has an app My Family Health Portrait: Cancer app you can use to collect family history.
Other risk factors for ovarian cancer include:
Lynch Syndrome ( 12% lifetime risk of ovarian cancer)
Your history of other cancers( breast, uterine, colorectal)
Your history of endometriosis ( Associated with Low-grade serous carcinoma, Clear cell carcinoma, Mucinous carcinoma, Endometrioid carcinoma)
Age ( the median age of diagnosis is 63)
Early menstruation, no childbirth, child birth after 30 , no oral contraceptive use and infertility
Obesity
We may not be able to prevent cancer but there are ways to reduce your risk of ovarian cancer?
If you use oral contraceptives for five years you can reduce your risk by 50%. Multiple pregnancies ( ovulating less) and pregnancy before 26 years old can also reduce your risk.
Another way to reduce risk is to have your Fallopian tubes removed. Many High grade serous ovarian cancers originates in the Fallopian tubes. The surgery to remove the Fallopian tubes when done during another gynecologic surgery such as a hysterectomy is called opportunistic salpinectomy. This surgery leaves the ovaries intact.
For women with a BRCA1 or 2 genetic mutations risk can be reduced by having a bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy where the fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed surgically. Primary peritoneal cancer may still occur after this surgery but it is rare.
Sources : https://ocrahope.org/for-patients/prevention-risk/ , https://www.cancer.org , https://www.basser.org/brca/brca-ashkenazi-jewish-community
In my next post I'll talk about diagnosis and types of ovarian cancer.
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
