Ovarian Cancer - The Diigo Meta page

• 03 Jul 09
  

  Elena LaVictoire

  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.
  • 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.
  • 6 more annotations...
  • • • 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.
        
    • 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.
    • 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
    • • 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.
        
    • 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.
    • 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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