Factores de riesgo

While most people with ovarian cancer do not have any known risk factors, some do exist. If someone has one or more risk factors, they will not necessarily develop ovarian cancer; however, their  risk may be higher than the average individual.

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Genetics: BRCA1 and BRCA2

About 20 to 25 percent of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a hereditary tendency to develop the disease. The most significant risk factor for ovarian cancer is an inherited genetic mutation in one of two genes: breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) or breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2). These genetic mutations are responsible for about 10 to 15 percent of all ovarian cancers.

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Eastern European individuals and those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are at a higher risk of carrying BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. In addition, those of Hispanic heritage, including those from Colorado's San Luis Valley, are at higher risk for carrying the mutation.

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Since these genes are linked to both breast and ovarian cancer, individuals who have had breast cancer have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. You can find more detail about BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in the Ovarian Cancer Risk Consensus Statement—BRCA1 and BRCA2, which the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance endorsed in 2012.

Source: Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance

https://ocrahope.org/patients/about-ovarian-cancer/risk-factors/

 

Genetics: Lynch Syndrome

Another known genetic link to ovarian cancer is an inherited syndrome called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC or Lynch Syndrome). While HNPCC poses the greatest risk of colon cancer, those with HNPCC have about a 12 percent lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer.

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Those who have one first-degree relative with ovarian cancer but no known genetic mutation still have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.  The lifetime risk of someone who has a first degree relative with ovarian cancer is five percent (the average woman’s lifetime risk is 1.4 percent).

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Increasing Age

All those assigned female at birth are at risk of developing ovarian cancer regardless of age; however, an individual's risk is highest during over age 60 and increases with age through the late 70s.

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About 69 percent of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States from 2002 to 2006 were 55 or older.

The median age (at which half of all reported cases are older and half are younger) at diagnosis is 63.

 

Reproductive History and Infertility

Research suggests a relationship between the number of menstrual cycles in an individual's lifetime and the risk of developing ovarian cancer. An individual is at an increased risk if they:

• started menstruating at an early age (before 12),

• have not given birth to any children,

• gave birth to their first child after 30,

• experienced menopause after 50,

• has never taken oral contraceptives.

• Infertility, regardless of whether or not fertility drugs were used, also increases the risk of ovarian cancer.

 

Oral Contraceptives (birth control pills)

The use of oral contraceptives decreases the risk of developing ovarian cancer, especially when used for several years. Those who use oral contraceptives for five or more years have about a 50 percent lower risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who have never used oral contraceptives.

 

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Doctors may prescribe hormone replacement therapy to alleviate symptoms associated with menopause (hot flashes, night sweats, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness) that occur as the body adjusts to decreased levels of estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy usually involves treatment with either estrogen alone (for those who have had a hysterectomy) or a combination of estrogen with progesterone or progestin (for those who have not had a hysterectomy).

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Individuals who use menopausal hormone therapy are at an increased risk for ovarian cancer. Recent studies indicate that using a combination of estrogen and progestin for five or more years significantly increases the risk of ovarian cancer in those who have not had a hysterectomy. Ten or more years of estrogen use increases the risk of ovarian cancer in individuals who have had a hysterectomy.

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Obesity

Various studies have found a link between obesity and ovarian cancer. A 2009 study found that obesity was associated with an almost 80 percent higher risk of ovarian cancer in those individuals 50 to 71 who had not taken hormones after menopause.

 

Reducing Risk

While there is no prevention method for the disease, people can reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer in many ways:

• Oral Contraceptive Use - The use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) decreases the risk of developing ovarian cancer, especially when used for several years. Those who use oral contraceptives for five or more years have about a 50 percent lower risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who have never used oral contraceptives.

• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding - Pregnancy and breastfeeding are linked with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer, likely because women ovulate less frequently when pregnant or breastfeeding.

• Removal of the Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes - Individuals can greatly reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by removing their ovaries and fallopian tubes, a procedure known as prophylactic bilateral salpingo oophorectomy. One recent study suggests that individuals with BRCA1 mutations gain the most benefit by removing their ovaries before age 35. There are risks associated with removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes; women should speak to their doctors about whether this procedure is appropriate for them.

 

All individuals assigned female at birth are at risk because ovarian cancer does not strike only one ethnic or age group. A healthcare professional can help an individual identify ways to reduce their risk as well as decide if consultation with a genetic counselor is appropriate.

Source: Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance
Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors and Prevention | OCRA (ocrahope.org)