Ovarian Cancer Risk
Ovarian cancer, like many cancers, has a better survival rate if it is treated in its earlier stages. Yet, this isn’t always easy, since no viable screening exists for detecting very minor ovarian cancer tumors. However, if a woman finds that she is part of the demographics that carry a greater ovarian cancer risk, she should consider getting screening. This article will describe in greater detail the specific groups of people that carry the greatest ovarian cancer risks.
Breast Cancer Genes
Unfortunately, two genes exist that not only carry a high ovarian cancer risk, but also increases one’s chances of getting breast cancer. These are called BRCA1 and BRCA 2. They are most common in women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Yet, there is a little bit of good news for women who have these genes. Studies in Israel have shown that though these genes carry greater ovarian cancer risks, they also seem to help keep a woman alive longer if she does actually get the disease.
Women with Certain Reproductive Situations
Ovarian cancer risk is the greatest for women who are infertile or have never had children. However, if a woman has had a child after 30 she also possesses the same ovarian cancer risk. There are also ovarian cancer risks associated with how a woman menstruates. For example, women who menstruate before the age of 12 and/or women who experience menopause after 50, carry a greater ovarian cancer risk.
Family History of Ovarian Cancer
This is one of the greatest ovarian cancer risks out there. A woman’s chances of getting ovarian cancer are significantly increased if a relative has it. This is especially the case if the relative is close, such as a mother, sister or even a daughter. However, there is also some ovarian cancer risk even if a distant relative has it, especially if the relative is from the mother’s side of one’s family.
Age
Ovarian cancer tends to not affect menstruating women. It also affects very elderly women, versus women who are younger, (such as those in their 50s). Women who are in their 70s carry the greatest ovarian cancer risk.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Some women undergo hormone replacement therapy to help counteract some of the negative effects of menopause. However, some studies have shown that by doing such things they are increasing their ovarian cancer risk. The risk is doubled the longer a woman is on the therapy.
Use of Clomiphene Citrate
Clomiphene citrate is a fertility drug that is often prescribed for infertile women. However, there are studies that indicate it carries an ovarian cancer risk, especially if its use doesn’t result in a pregnancy. The reason why the drug carries a higher ovarian cancer risk is that it creates LMP tumors, (which means low malignant potential). And although LMP tumors usually do not start out cancerous, they can always turn that way. If some of the other ovarian cancer risks discussed in this article also apply to you, you may want to consider looking into another fertility drug, to ensure you won’t be at an even greater risk of getting the disease. Yet, don’t necessarily give up on trying to have children since, (as already mentioned), giving birth lowers one’s ovarian cancer risk.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are usually pretty easy to spot. Symptoms include problems with digestion, abdominal pains and swelling, problems with gas and regularly experiences nausea. These are the signs that you will first see, as the cancer develops more symptoms will be seen.
Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates
It’s a shame but only 35 percent of women who get ovarian cancer will survive the terrible cancer. Researchers however are searching for a new drug which will increase the chance of ovarian cancer suffers surviving, initial research has been positive however it will be some time before they find a drug that cures cancer completely.