Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancerous, and spread to other areas of the body, eventually becoming fatal. All women are at risk for ovarian cancer, but awareness of the symptoms may enable women to receive an earlier diagnosis. The earlier the detection, the more easily treatable the cancer is. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a late state, when it is already advanced.The following factors may raise a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer:
Age - Although women of all ages have a risk of ovarian cancer, women over 50 are more likely to develop it, as a risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with age.Family History - Women with a first-degree relative, such as a mother or sister, with ovarian cancer have about a three times higher risk of developing the disease.Genetics - About 10%-15% of ovarian cancers occur because a genetic mutation, such as in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, has been passed down within a family. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are “human genes that produce tumor suppressor proteins. These proteins help repair damaged DNA and, therefore, play a role in ensuring the stability of the cell’s genetic material.” (http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet)Obesity - Studies have shown that women who were obese in early adulthood are 50% more likely to develop ovarian cancer; additionally, women who are obese are also more likely to die from the disease.Endometriosis - This occurs when tissue that normally lines the inside of a woman’s uterus grows outside the uterus, affecting other nearby organs. Women who have endometriosis present on the ovary have the highest risk of not only ovarian cancer, but breast cancer, brain cancer, and endocrine cancers.For more information, take this quiz to assess your cancer risk:http://www.ovarian.org/are_you_at_risk.php
This is not a test, but a questionnaire to determine your risk for cancer.
