Ovarian Cancer

Age: Most ovarian cancers happen after change of life (menopause). Half of all these cancers are found in women over the age of 63.

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Obesity: A study from the ACS found a higher rate of death from ovarian cancer in women who were overweight. The risk went up by 50% in the heaviest women.

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Menstrual periods: There seems to be a link between the number of periods (menstrual cycles) in a woman’s lifetime and her risk of getting ovarian cancer. Women who started having periods early (before 12 years of age) or who went through the change of life (menopause) after the age of 50 have a small increased risk of ovarian cancer. The same is true for women who have not had children, or had their first child after they were 30 years old.

Fertility drugs: Some studies have found that long-time use of one fertility drug (clomiphene citrate), especially if no pregnancy took place, may increase the risk of LMP tumors. But infertility also increases the risk, even without the use of fertility drugs. Research in this area is now going on.

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Family history: Ovarian cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives (mother, sister, daughter) have (or had) this disease. The relatives can be from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family. There is a higher risk if ovarian cancer happened at an early age. About 1 in 10 cases of ovarian cancers are linked to gene changes that can be found with certain tests. These changes are also linked to an increased risk of breast and colorectal cancer.

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Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT): Some studies suggest that women using estrogens after menopause may have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, but other studies have not found any effect. Most of these findings have been for women who used estrogen alone, not those taking combined estrogen and progesterone. The increased risk is less certain for women taking both drugs. Because of the small number of studies, doctors are not sure whether estrogens increase the risk of ovarian cancer

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Birth control pills: Birth control pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, especially among women who use them for several years.

Tubal ligation or hysterectomy: "Tying" the tubes as a method of birth control, when done after childbearing, may reduce the chance of ovarian cancer. Removing the uterus may also reduce the risk. But these surgeries should only be done for a valid medical reason and not just for their effect on ovarian cancer risk.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Having one or more children plus breast-feeding for a year or longer may decrease the risk of ovarian cancer. Although these measures slightly reduce the risk, they don’t offer complete protection. Doctors do not suggest making these choices about when to have a child simply for the purpose of reducing ovarian cancer risk. Keep in mind that using the birth control pill has a greater impact on this risk.

Diet: A number of studies have shown a lower rate of this cancer in women who ate a diet high in vegetables. The American Cancer Society recommends eating a wide variety of healthful foods, with many from plant sources. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Limit the amount of red meats, especially those that are high in fat.

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Aspirin and acetaminophen: Some studies have shown that both aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. But there is some doubt about this. Women should not take these drugs simply to prevent this cancer. More research is needed.

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Surgery to remove one or both ovaries is called oophorectomy. It can be done before a cancer develops in order to lower the risk. But whether or not a woman should have this surgery is open to question because it causes change of life (menopause) to take place early. Often, doctors suggest it only for certain women over the age of 40 who are at very high risk. While this operation lowers ovarian cancer risk a great deal, cancer can still form in the cells lining the pelvis where the ovaries were located.

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