Ovarian Cancer - Symptoms

Highlights	Prognosis	Resources
Introduction	Treatment	References
Risk Factors and Prevention	Surgery	References
Symptoms	Chemotherapy
Diagnosis	Radiation Therapy

Risk Factors and Prevention

Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer in women, and the fifth leading cause of female cancer death. Each year in the United States, about 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. About 14,000 American women die each year from the disease.

Certain factors increase the risk for ovarian cancer, while other factors reduce risk. Many of the preventive factors are related to the number of times a woman ovulates during her lifetime, which is indicated by the number of menstrual periods she has. Fewer menstrual periods and ovulations appear to be associated with reduced risk for ovarian cancer.

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Factors That Increase the Risk for Ovarian Cancer

The main risk factors for ovarian cancer are:

Age
Family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer
Genetic mutations
Obesity
Hormone replacement therapy use
Menstrual and reproductive history

Age. Ovarian cancer risk increases with age. About two-thirds of women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 55 or older. The average age for the onset of ovarian cancer is about age 63, although ovarian cancer can develop in women of all ages.

Family History. A family history of breast or ovarian cancer is one of the strongest risk factors for ovarian cancer. Women are also at high risk for ovarian cancer if they have a family history of a hereditary form of colorectal cancer.

In general, women are considered at high risk for ovarian cancer if they have:

A first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with ovarian cancer at any age. The risk increases with the number of affected first-degree relatives.
A first-degree relative (or two second-degree relatives on the same side) with early onset breast cancer (occurring before age 50)
A family member with both breast and ovarian cancer
A family history of male breast cancer
A family history of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish ancestry

When a woman describes her family history to her doctor, she should include the history of cancer in women on both the mother's and the father's side. Both are significant.