Am I At Risk For Ovarian Cancer?

A woman may be at greater risk if her mother, sister or daughter has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

There is really no way to know for sure if you’re going to get ovarian cancer. Certain factors can make you more likely to get it than another woman. These are called risk factors. However, just because you have one or more risk factors doesn’t necessarily mean you will get ovarian cancer. In fact, you can have all the risk factors and still not get ovarian cancer, or you can have no known risk factors and still get it.

If you agree with any of the following bolded statements, you may be at an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Some risk factors are out of your control, such as your age or family history. Others--like your weight or taking hormones--are factors you can control.

My mother or sister had ovarian, breast, or colon cancer.

A mother or sister is considered a first-degree relative. If you have 2 or more first-degree relatives who have had ovarian cancer, this suggests that heredity may be a cause. If you have a family history of breast or colon cancer, your family may have certain genetic mutations that may also increase the risk for ovarian cancer. These types of ovarian cancer account for 10% of ovarian cancer cases.

I have had breast or colon cancer.

A personal history of breast or colon cancer puts you at increased risk for ovarian cancer.

I am a woman older than age 60.

The older you are, the greater your risk for getting ovarian cancer. A woman’s risk for ovarian cancer rises with age and peaks during their 70s. The average age of diagnosis is 63.

I’ve never had children.

Women who have never borne children are at slightly increased risk for ovarian cancer.

I have endometriosis.

Women who have endometriosis have a higher risk of ovarian cancer. This is a painful condition in which tissue similar to that lining the uterus grows elsewhere in the abdominal area.

I am obese.

Being obese means having a body mass index greater than 30. (See http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ for how to calculate your body mass index.) Obesity increases risk for ovarian cancer. The more excess weight you have, the more your risk is increased.

I used talcum powder.

Some studies show a relationship between ovarian cancer and use of talcum powder on the genital area. This may be because this powder once contained asbestos. For more than 20 years, the law has required that these powders be free of asbestos.

I have taken estrogen replacement therapy for many years.

If you’ve used estrogen replacement therapy for more than 10 years, you may have a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer.

I started menstruating at an early age—before age 12.

There may be a relationship between the number of menstrual cycles you have in your lifetime and your risk for ovarian cancer. Women who have late menopause (after age 50) are also at increased risk.

I have used fertility drugs.

If you’ve used fertility drugs, you may be at increased risk for ovarian cancer. Research studies have produced conflicting results.