Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors

Ovarian cancer risk factors - There is an unknown cause of ovarian cancer. There are a few factors that play a role in the possible development of ovarian cancer. These are also called ovarian cancer risk factors and you will find a few below.

• Having little or no children
• Menstruation started at an early age
• Late transition
• Higher age
• Unhealthy lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, unhealthy food)
• Obesity
• Oddly, ovarian cancer is more common among longer people (longer than the average)

How do you prevent ovarian cancer? Prevent ovarian cancer is not possible but you can lower chance to develop this disease. These factors reduce the chance of developing ovarian cancer:

• Swallowing the contraceptive pill
• Getting one or more children
• Breastfeeding
• Drinking tea

Drinking tea reduces the risk of ovarian cancer
Notable research at the Chinese community has statistically shown that tea drinking significantly reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. 1,000 participants participated in the study with an average age of 59 years. Half of the participant had ovarian cancer, the other half did not. The women received questions about how often they drank tea, from which age they started drinking tea and which tea they mainly drink.

It was discovered that women without ovarian cancer had started drinking tea at an early age. In addition, these women took on average more tea per day than women with ovarian cancer. In the group of women without ovarian cancer, 79% drank tea from an early age, while in the group of women with ovarian cancer this percentage was much lower. The possible explanation is that tea contains many antioxidants, especially the flavonoids are notorious for their protective and supportive function. In addition, these substances counteract unrestrained cell division of body cells.

Ovarian cancer is not contagious, just like any cancer.

Heredity

In 5% to 10% of cases of ovarian cancer, it is a hereditary variant where a gene mutation has occurred. It is a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, inherited from one of the parents. This gene and this defect can be surrendered to the children by both husband and wife. There is a 50% chance that a child of the parent with a gene mutation will inherit this mutation. In the slightest doubt, a hereditary examination can be performed. If this test is positive, it may be possible to opt for a preventive operation.

Possible indications for hereditary ovarian cancer are:

• If there is a man in the family with breast cancer
• If a woman in the family develops breast and ovarian cancer
• If breast and/or ovarian cancer occurs in some first and second-degree family members

Some women are eligible for preventive screening for hereditary breast cancer.

*Image source : LinkedIn

References :

1. National Cancer Institute
2. Eierstokkanker.com
3. American Cancer Society