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Most women have one or more risk factors for ovarian cancer. But risk
factors only partly explain the disease, since most of them increase
risk only slightly. So far, knowledge about risk factors has not led to
ways to prevent the disease.
Some of the actions listed below may reduce the risk of the
most common type of ovarian cancer (epithelial) only slightly, while
others may decrease it much more. If you are concerned about your risk,
especially if you have a family history of cancer, you should discuss
this information with your doctor.
Birth control
pills: Birth control pills reduce the risk of ovarian
cancer, especially among women who use them for 5 years or more.
Tubal ligation
or hysterectomy: "Tying" the tubes as a method of birth
control, when done after childbearing, may reduce the chance of ovarian
cancer. Removing the uterus may also reduce the risk. But these
surgeries should only be done for a valid medical reason and not just
for their effect on ovarian cancer risk.
Women with a family history of ovarian cancer might want to
think about genetic counseling and perhaps genetic testing. Before
asking for the test, a woman should discuss the benefits and possible
drawbacks with her doctor. Genetic testing can tell if a woman carries
certain gene changes that cause a higher risk of ovarian cancer.
Learning that she does not have the gene change can be a great relief,
while finding out that she does can be quite stressful. Still, the
information can be helpful in looking at methods to prevent cancer.
Studies looking at whether the birth control pill could lower
the risk of ovarian cancer have shown mixed results. For women at
average risk, the pill does lower the risk. But for women at high risk
because of gene changes, the results are mixed. More research is needed
to make clear the pros and cons of the pill for women at high risk of
ovarian or breast cancer.
Surgery to remove one or both ovaries is called oophorectomy. It
can be done before a cancer develops in order to lower the risk. But
whether or not a woman should have this surgery is open to question
because it causes change of life (menopause) to take place early.
Often, doctors suggest it only for certain women over the age of 40 who
are at very high risk. While this operation lowers ovarian cancer risk
a great deal, cancer can still form in the cells lining the pelvis
where the ovaries were located.
Revised: 02/06/2008
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