Ovarian Cancer

You are here: Home / Archives for Articles By Cause / Ovarian Cancer

Are You at Risk for Ovarian Cancer?

by 7 Comments
Jul
24
2011
Are You At Risk For Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is not the most common cancer in women, but it’s one of the most deadly. The reason ovarian cancer tops the list of most lethal cancers is because it’s usually not diagnosed until it has spread outside the ovaries where it can’t be easily treated. The key to conquering this form of cancer is for women to know their risk factors and see their gynecologist yearly for a check-up. What are the most common risk factors for ovarian cancer? Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer Some women are genetically predisposed to breast cancer, because they inherited one of two genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. Having one of these two genes increases the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer in women. A woman with BRCA1 or BRCA2 has a lifetime risk for getting ovarian cancer as high as 40%. This is why women who have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, especially if the cancer occurred prior to menopause, should talk to their doctor about testing for these genes. If … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ovarian Cancer Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Do Ovarian Cysts Increase Ovarian Cancer Risk?

by
Oct
05
2010
Ovarian Cysts Cause Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cysts aren’t uncommon in women. The most common type of cyst on the ovary is called a functional cyst. This type of cyst basically consists of a collection of fluid inside the ovary. These cysts are benign, but many women fear that having an ovarian cyst increases the risk of ovarian cancer. Is this true? What Causes an Ovarian Cyst? Functional ovarian cysts form during the menstrual cycle. Normally, when an egg is released during ovulation, it’s surrounded by a protective follicle. As it’s released the fluid ruptures. If it fails to rupture as a result of a hormonal imbalance, the follicle swells with fluid and forms a smooth sac called a cyst. These cysts can become several inches in diameter in some cases. This isn’t the only type of ovarian cyst, but it’s the one doctors see most often in pre-menopausal women. Post-menopausal women get ovarian cysts too - with almost 15% of women having one at some point after the age of fifty. Ovarian cysts can also be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ovarian Cancer Tagged With: , , , , ,

Endometriosis and Cancer Risk

by
Aug
06
2010
Endometriosis and Cancer Risk

Women who have endometriosis may be at higher risk for cancer according to an article published in Medscape.com. Almost ninety million women suffer fro m this disease – almost all of them pre-menopausal. Although this disease isn’t life threatening, it can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for women who are unfortunate enough to deal with it. What is Endometriosis? Endometriosis is a disease where uterine tissue is deposited in other parts of the pelvic cavity including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines, and bladder. This causes women to have very painful menstrual cramps and some women experience pain with intercourse, back pain, and infertility. No one is sure what causes it, but there’s a theory that “retrograde menstruation” occurs in women with endometriosis where the menstrual flow backs up into the fallopian tubes and abdominal cavity causing portions of the uterine lining to be deposited in other parts of the pelvic cavity. Endometriosis and Cancer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Endometriosis, Ovarian Cancer Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Drinking Tea May Cut Ovarian Cancer Risk

by
Aug
06
2010
Drinking Tea May Reduce Ovarian Cancer Risk

Can drinking tea everyday lower your risk of ovarian cancer? According to a new study from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, it can. Now there’s one more reason to get out the teapot and enjoy the many health benefits this popular beverage has to offer. This study looked at the tea drinking habits of 2,700 women living in Australian – half who had ovarian cancer and half of whom didn’t. They found that women who drank more than four cups of tea a day had a thirty percent lower ovarian cancer risk relative to women who weren’t tea drinkers. Although green tea has received the most focus in terms of cancer prevention, black and herbal teas were just as effective in this study. This isn’t the first study to show that drinking tea lowers the risk of ovarian cancer. A 2005 study found that drinking as little as two cups a day lowered ovarian cancer risk by forty-six percent. Tea may be the drink of choice when it comes to preventing ovarian cancer – the eighth most … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ovarian Cancer Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,