Understanding the risks of ovarian cancer

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), ovarian cancer ranks fifth as the cause of cancer death in women. ACS estimates that more than 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, and more than 15,310 women will die this year because of the disease.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, making it the ideal time to learn about the risk factors and symptoms of the deadly disease and what you can do to help lower your chances of developing it.

Risk factors

According to the ACS, risk factors for ovarian cancer include:

• History of ovarian cancer among close blood relatives (mother, sister, daughter).
• Age. Most cases of ovarian cancer occur after menopause.
• Use of the fertility drug clomiphene citrate, especially if pregnancy did not occur.
• Obesity.
• Occurrence of breast cancer. Women who have had breast cancer have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

While the presence of these risk factors does not guarantee that a woman will get ovarian cancer, a woman who has one or more of them should be on the lookout for early symptoms.

Symptoms

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, but the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) says potential signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

• Pain or discomfort in the pelvic region or abdomen.
• Swelling, bloating and/or feeling of fullness in the pelvic region or abdomen.
• Persistent gastrointestinal problems, such as gas, nausea and/or indigestion.
• Unexplained changes in bowel habits.
• Frequent urination (in the absence of infection).
• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss.
• Ongoing fatigue.

If you experience any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, consult your physician.

Reducing the risk

The NOCC says there is currently no known way to prevent ovarian cancer, but that studies suggest certain things can reduce a woman’s risk of developing the disease:

• Use of oral contraceptives. Women who use oral contraceptives for three or more years have about a 30-50 percent lower risk of developing ovarian cancer than women who have never used oral contraceptives.
• Having children and breast feeding.
• Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and exercise.
• Surgeries such as tubal ligation (tying the fallopian tubes), hysterectomy and prophylactic oophorectomy (removing one or both ovaries).

For more information, visit the ACS online at www.cancer.org and the NOCC online at www.ovarian.org.

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H.E.A.D.s Up is a monthly column that features articles on a wide array of Health, Exercise And Diet issues. Information for these articles is provided by health and wellness professionals from throughout the A&M System. If you have questions or story ideas for this column, email Ruth McMullan.

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