Risk Factors
It is impossible to predict who will or won't develop ovarian
cancer, but the most important risk factors for ovarian cancer are
age and a strong family history.
Age - Most cases of ovarian cancer occur in
women who have already gone through the menopause which means that
women over the age of 50 have a higher risk. It is rare for young
women to develop ovarian cancer but it does happen so all women
should be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and should be
especially watchful if they have a family history of the
disease.
Family history - Ovarian and breast cancer is
sometimes the result of a gene mutation that can run in families.
About 1 in 10 ovarian cancers are caused by an inherited faulty
gene.
- Familial ovarian cancer - Cancers in these families may be
caused by a genetic mutation, by shared environmental or lifestyle
factors, or by a combination of genetics, environment and
lifestyle. In these families if there is a gene mutation present,
it has usually not been identified.
- Hereditary ovarian cancer - In these families a mutated gene
has been identified that makes it more likely that individuals who
have this gene are more likely to develop cancer. Mutated genes are
passed from one generation to the next.
If there are two or more cases of ovarian, breast or prostate
cancer in your close family - particularly at a young age - you
should make your GP aware. You may then be referred to a cancer
genetics clinic for further assesment. Depending on your level of
risk, your age and whether you have completed your family, you may
be offered keyhole surgery to remove the tubes and ovaries. If this
is not appropriate, but your risk level is high, you may be offered
participation in a trial of ovarian cancer screening.
Breast cancer - If you have, or have had,
breast cancer, it may be the result of a similar faulty gene. Women
who have had breast cancer have double the risk of developing
ovarian cancer compared with other women in the population. If
their breast cancer was diagnosed before the age of 40, the risk is
almost four times higher.
Other risk factors have been identified but any increase
in individual risk is very small. They include:
HRT - Women who take Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT) over time to relieve menopausal symptoms may be
slightly increasing their risk of ovarian cancer. As there are
different types of HRT, it is helpful to discuss any concerns with
your GP.
Endometriosis - women with endometriosis are at
a slightly higher risk of developing ovarian cancer (less than
twofold), especially if is diagnosed at a young age or present for
a long, time
Ovarian cysts - One study has found that women
admitted to hospital�for ovarian cysts before the age of 29 are at
slightly increased�risk of ovarian cancer later in life and women
who had removal of an ovary or other surgery to treat their cysts
had an almost nine times increased risk.This may be because the
original cysts were misclassified as being benign or because women
were more likely to undergo surgery if they had a family history of
ovarian cancer. It is not currently accepted that benign ovarian
cysts increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
Overweight - Research has found that being
obese raises a post-menopausal woman's risk of ovarian cancer by as
much as 80 per cent. For example, a woman who would normally have a
2 per cent lifetime risk would have a 3.6 per cent lifetime risk of
developing ovarian cancer.
Additional potential risk factors include -
smoking; use of talcum powder in the genital area; IVF treatment;
eating large amounts of foods containing acrylamides, such as
overbrowned foods that have been grilled, fried, baked or roasted;
but their role is not completely proven, and even if confirmed, the
additional risk due to these factors is likely to be very
small.