Ovarian Cancer Awareness Video

Causes:

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women, and it causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. The cause is unknown.

The risk for developing ovarian cancer appears to be affected by several factors. The more children a woman has and the earlier in life she gives birth, the lower her risk for ovarian cancer. Certain genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are responsible for a small number of ovarian cancer cases. Women with a personal history of breast cancer or a family history of breast or ovarian cancer have an increased risk for ovarian cancer.

Older women are at highest risk. About two-thirds of the deaths from ovarian cancer occur in women age 55 and older. About 25% of ovarian cancer deaths occur in women ages 35 - 54.

Prevention:

Having regular pelvic examinations may decrease the overall risk. Screening tests for ovarian cancer remains a very active research area. To date, there is no cost-effective screening test for ovarian cancer. More than 50% of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the late stages of the disease.

Recent research has shown that preventive surgery to remove the ovaries in women who have a mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can dramatically reduce their risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Contact Us:

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact us as we will help guide you in the right direction.

To schedule a consultation with a Cancer Care Coordinator at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, please call 480-323-1255 (toll free: 1-877- 273-3639 or e-mail the ccc@shc.org.