Ovarian Cancer Awareness Series - Part 1: Key factors causing Ovarian Cancer

Amongst all diseases that have afflicted women in India in recent times, Ovarian Cancer has wreaked unprecedented havoc. Worldwide almost 30,000 women are afflicted annually with ovarian cancer and in most cases, identification has typically been in the later stages and been imminently fatal.

There are a few high-risk factors that have been identified to contribute towards incidents of Ovarian cancer:

• Age: The incidence of ovarian cancer in women over the age of 65 is almost five times greater than that of women below the age of 65.

• Family History: The presence of first-degree biological relatives with ovarian cancer increases the risk of a woman contracting the disease (this happens due to inheriting germ mutations).

• Diet: Although definitive correlation of diet and ovarian cancer has not been established, studies have shown that low fat dietary intake for almost 4 years proved to lead to 40% lower risk of having ovarian cancer.

• Lifestyle: Breast, colon, and other malignancies have also been often linked to sedentary behavior and physical inactivity, respectively. However, several studies have produced contradictory findings about the relationship between ovarian cancer risk and indicators of a sedentary lifestyle. Meta-analysis has shown that there was 7% increased risk among women who were current smokers as compared to women who never smoked, however the effect of smoking varied significantly by histology subtypes.

• Stress and Mental Well-being: Psychosocial stress and environmental risks that impact inflammation and wound healing have also been associated with the development of ovarian cancer. An alarming 30 percent greater risk of ovarian cancer was discovered in a recent prospective analysis of women with depressive symptoms.

References:

1. Alvarez, Ronald D., Beth Y. Karlan, and Jerome F. Strauss. “‘Ovarian Cancers: Evolving Paradigms in Research and Care.’” Gynecologic Oncology 141, no. 3 (June 1, 2016): 413–15. https://lnkd.in/dX88qYM2.

2. Bast, Robert C., Chae Young Han, Zhen Lu, and Karen H. Lu. “Next Steps in the Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer.” Communications Medicine 1, no. 1 (October 5, 2021). https://lnkd.in/gUfGGfpn.

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DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, contained in this article are for informational purposes only. No material from this article is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.
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