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Know the Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer

Two women stand side by side. They seem relatively healthy one has ovarian cancer and doesn't know it; the other does not have the disease. Why did one woman, seemingly healthy get ovarian cancer and the other do not? Did the one have more risk factors for the disease? Was she predestined to get ovarian cancer? Doctors may not always be able to know why one woman gets ovarian cancer and another woman does not, but medical researchers and scientists have noticed similarities that can perhaps determine what some of the risks are for ovarian cancer.

Studies have detected the following risk factors for ovarian cancer:

Family history of cancer such as a mom, daughter, or a sister who have had ovarian cancer will increase your risk for ovarian cancer.

Women who have a family history of breast cancer also are at increased risk for ovarian cancer.

Women who have other cancers in their family such as cancer of the colon, uterus or rectum may also have an increased risk for ovarian cancer.

A strong risk for ovarian cancer would be if several women in your family had ovarian or breast cancer at young ages.

If you detect that you have any of the above risks for ovarian cancer you should do two things:

Have yearly screening tests to help detect cancer early

Make an appointment with a genetic counselor and let him/her know about your family history. Genetic tests may be able to show the presence of certain genetic changes that will increase your risk for ovarian cancer.

Women who have had other cancers such as breast, colon or cancer of the uterus may have a higher risk of ovarian cancer.

Age is another risk factor for ovarian cancer. Women over 55 are at higher risk for ovarian cancer based on history of those women who have ovarian cancer.

Women who have never been pregnant and are older have an increased risk for ovarian cancer.

There are some studies that have shown a possible risk for women who have taken estrogen without progesterone for ten or more years may also be at risk for ovarian cancer.

Some scientists also believe that women who have taken fertility drugs and not conceived, or have used talcum powder in the vaginal area or who are obese may also be at a higher risk for ovarian cancer. These factors are not strong factors and not all medical professionals are convinced that they are risk factors.

These risk factors do not necessarily mean that having them will result in you getting ovarian cancer. Women who have these risk factors are cancer free and women who do not have any of the above risk factors have ovarian cancer. Women have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had no other known risk factor for ovarian cancer except for the "growing older" part.

If you are a female and think that you may have any of the above risk factors for ovarian cancer, see your doctor to be evaluated. Regular screening tests may be the only reliable way of detecting ovarian cancer early as symptoms of ovarian cancer do not usually show up in the early stage of ovarian cancer.