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Theories About Causes for Ovarian Cancer

Cancer is a growth of abnormal cells that may be either noncancerous (benign) or they can be cancerous (malignant). Benign tumors are abnormal cell, that do not spread to other body tissues (metastasize). Cancerous cells spread to other body tissues. They can spread directly to tissue or organs that is nearby or they can spread through your bloodstream and also by way of lymph channels to other parts of the body.

The cause of this happening (ovarian cancer) is still unknown although scientist and researchers are hard at work trying to discover what the cause for ovarian cancer might be. There are some theories about the cause of ovarian cancer such as having to do with tissue-repair that follows the monthly release of an egg through a tiny tear in an ovarian follicle during the woman's reproductive years. Genetic errors can occur at the site of the ruptured egg during ovulation. Another theory is that the hormone levels that increase before and during ovulation may be the cause of abnormal cell growth.

As in most diseases people want to know who is at risk for the disease. Women are no different; they want to know if there is anything they need to be concerned about and if they are at risk for ovarian cancer. Researchers believe that there are some situations that may put a woman at greater risk for ovarian cancer such as:

An inherited gene mutation. There are two inherited mutated genes called breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2). Families with multiple cases of breast cancer are responsible for about 5% to 10% of the cases of ovarian cancer. Those who are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a higher risk of carrying these types of mutations. Another inherited risk for ovarian cancer involves a genetic link of an inherited syndrome called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Families are at a higher risk of cancers of the uterine lining (endometrium), colon, stomach, small intestine and ovaries if they have this genetic link.

Family history is certainly something to be concerned about. Cancer does seem to run in families where if a woman has a mom, sister, or daughter with breast or ovarian cancer she is more likely to also have ovarian cancer.

Age is also seen as a common thread for those with ovarian cancer as most of the women who are diagnosed are over age 50. That does not mean that if you are young you are somehow immune to ovarian cancer, that isn't the case. Young girls and young women have also been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it is just that the majority of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are over age 50.

Women tend to decrease their risk for ovarian cancer with every child that she bears.

Studies also show that women who have used oral birth control pills for a minimum of five years seem to have some immunity to ovarian cancer.

Women who have had difficulty conceiving seem to be at an increased risk for ovarian cancer especially if they have taken fertility drugs and not conceived. Research is still being done on this particular risk factor.

Some women experience normal cyst formation during the ovulation cycle. Cysts that form after menopause however seem to place these women at a higher risk for cancer. The risk for cancer increases with the size of the cyst and with age of the woman.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also be a factor in ovarian cancer because of the hormonal situation. The risk seems to be for women who are taking estrogen after menopause, but are not conclusive because other studies show no significant increase in risk for these women. Another study shows that women who haven't had a hysterectomy and have used menopausal hormone therapy for five or more years have a slightly increased risk for ovarian cancer.

Obesity play a significant role in so many diseases and conditions and it appears to also play a role in ovarian cancer. Studies show that women who are obese by age 18 are at an increased risk for ovarian cancer. Obesity has been linked to more aggressive ovarian cancers, which gives the woman a shorter time to diagnose and treat the disease.