Understanding Ovarian Cancer Risk: Factors and Statistics

Ovarian cancer forms on the surface of one or both of the ovaries, which are part of the female reproductive system. There are many factors that make women at high risk for ovarian cancer.

Statistics

• The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that 21,550 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2009, and 14,600 women will die of this type of cancer.

Genetic Link One

• Higher rates of ovarian cancer have been found in women that have two gene mutations known as BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. Although these genes were originally linked to higher rates of breast cancer, they have also been associated with higher rates of ovarian cancer.

Genetic Link Two

• Higher rates of ovarian cancer have also been found in women from families with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). The increased rate here is less than with women with the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene.

Family History

• Women from families with other members that have ovarian cancer have a higher risk of getting the cancer themselves. The increased risk is about 10 to 15 percent. No specific genetic link can be found in these cases.

Age and Weight

• The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, with most cases in women who are postmenopausal. Women who are obese also have a higher risk of ovarian cancer.