Ovarian cancer

There are many different types of ovarian cancer. Most come from the cells that make up the outer lining and are called epithelial ovarian cancers. Although the majority of epithelial ovarian cancers occur in women who do not have a family history of the disease, about 5-7 per cent of women with ovarian epithelial cancer have other family members who have also had the same kind of cancer.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Most women with ovarian cancer do not have symptoms at an early stage in their disease. However, when symptoms do occur they may include:

• Loss of appetite and general tiredness
• Unexplained weight gain or loss, perhaps with swelling of the abdomen
• Pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort
• Vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets, such as flatulence, nausea and indigestion with a feeling of being bloated
• Frequency and/or urgency of urination in absence of an infection
• Repeated constipation or diarrhoea
• Pain during intercourse
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding

It is important to remember that many of these symptoms can occur without any serious underlying disease.

Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer

No one knows what causes ovarian cancer but risk factors include:

• Age. This is by far the greatest risk factor; the older you are the more likely you are to get ovarian cancer, with most cases occurring after the menopause.
• Family history. A woman can inherit an increased risk for this disease, particularly if a 'first degree' relative (a mother, sister or daughter) has or has had ovarian, breast or colon cancer.
• Childbirth. Women who have had children are less likely to get ovarian cancer than those who have never had children.
• The Pill. It is believed that those who take the oral contraceptive pill also slightly decrease their risk of getting ovarian cancer.
• Other cancers. If you have had cancer of the breast or colon there may be an increased risk of getting ovarian cancer.
• Abnormal genes. A defect in the genes known as BRCA1 or BRCA2 can also increase a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer by a small percentage.

If you have a close family history of ovarian cancer you may be referred to a counselling clinic that specialises in inherited disorders. Research is underway into a screening blood test for those at high risk. This test looks for raised amounts of a substance called CA125 that may be associated with ovarian cancer. It is too early to say how valuable this test will be.