Ovarian Cancer
Causes and Risk Factors in Ovarian Cancer
The actual causes of ovarian cancer are not known. Some researchers believe that ovarian cancer is caused
by an impairment that occurs in the repairing process of the ovarian tissue
which occurs as a normal reaction of the body after the egg is released
each month. When a genetic error or
mutation occurs, the tissue repairing process is affected. Other researchers
believe that increased hormone levels during and after ovulation can spur
abnormal cell growth.
There are several factors that can increase one's risk for developing
ovarian cancer.
- Genetic factors and mutations: A significant risk factor in
developing ovarian cancer is an inherited mutation in one of the following
two genes: BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. These two genes are known to be involved
in the mechanism of breast cancer development, but research has showed
they are also responsible for 5 to 10 percent of ovarian cancer cases.
BRCA genes are two tumor suppressor genes that produce certain proteins
that prevent cells from growing abnormally. When they suffer a mutation,
they no longer function normally to suppress abnormal cell growth -
thereby allowing cancerous cells to develop.
Another genetic factor that increases the risk of developing ovarian
cancer is a syndrome called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.
This syndrome is another inherited gene mutation that increases the
risk for uterine lining (endometrium), colon, stomach, small intestine,
and ovarian cancer. However, the risk of ovarian cancer associated with
hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer is lower than the risk of
ovarian cancer associated with the mutation of BRCA breast cancer genes.
Not all cell mutations related to ovarian cancer are inherited. These
mutations can occur at any time during a woman's life. Although research
into other forms of cancer could establish connections between environmental
factors and cell mutation, researchers of ovarian cancer have not been
able to do so.
- Family history: A woman's risk for developing ovarian
cancer increases if she has a first degree relative (like sister,
mother, grandmother) that suffered from ovarian cancer. The
risks do not necessarily increase because of a family history
ovarian cancer - but when the inherited genetic mutations are
present. However, a woman's risk for ovarian cancer can be tied
to a family history of breast or colon cancer. Also, the risk
for ovarian cancer is indirectly proportional with the age of
the relative that suffered from ovarian cancer. The younger
the close relative was when she developed ovarian cancer, the
higher the risk to the patient for developing ovarian cancer.
The risk for ovarian cancer can be inherited from both the mother
or father sides of the family.
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- Personal breast cancer history: The risk for developing ovarian
cancer increases if the woman previously suffered from breast cancer.
- Age: It is known that ovarian cancer is more common in women
over 50. Therefore, the risk of developing ovarian cancer increases
when a woman enters the menopausal phase.
- Hormone changes: Women that have their first menstruation at
an early age (before age of 12), or went through menopause later then
normal (after age of 55), have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.
This risk decreases when the woman had one or more pregnancies. Hormones
can increase the growth process of the cancer cells. High level of hormones
specific to the reproductive years of a woman (especially if not interrupted
by the normal hormone changes of the pregnancy) appear to increase the
risk for ovarian cancer.
- Infertility and infertility drugs: Women who are infertile
and cannot conceive can be at a higher risk for developing ovarian cancer.
This risk can increases when women who have problems conceiving follow
a fertility treatment plan with medication that stimulates ovulation
- and do not become pregnant. For those women that DID become pregnant
after a fertility treatment, the risk for developing ovarian cancer
is not as high.
- Estrogen replacement therapy: Recent studies suggest that the
use of estrogen replacement therapy increases a woman's risk of developing
ovarian cancer. This risk increases with continued use. The risk among
those women that followed an estrogen replacement therapy for 10 years
is double when compared to those women that never used this treatment.
The risk continues to increase if the estrogen replacement therapy was
followed for 20 years.
- Hormone replacement therapy: Studies that focused on the risks
for developing ovarian cancer after the use of hormones like estrogen
and progesterone are inconsistent.
- Obesity in the adulthood: Studies have suggested that women
who are significantly overweight and/or have a poor diet are at higher
risk of developing ovarian cancer.
- Talcum powder: There are studies that suggest that talc powder
or sanitary napkins that contained talc, applied straight on the genital
area can increase the risk to develop ovarian cancer. In the past, talc
powder used to contain particles of asbestos, a carcinogen mineral.
This is an explanation for the tight connection between talcum powder
and an increased ovarian cancer risk. The new talc powders products
that are available on the market do not contain this carcinogen. Therefore,
in order to provide a higher level of safety, long term studies need
to be conducted on these new products to rule other other ingredients.
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Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com
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