In one in three cases of malignant female genital system tumors, the diagnosis is ovarian cancer. This neoplasia represents 3% of female tumors and its incidence is slightly higher after menopause. But what are its risk factors? We asked doctor Isabella Garassino, an oncologist at Humanitas.
Unmodifiable risk factors include family history. It is estimated that in about one in ten cases the tumor is associated with an alteration of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, correlated with the development of ovarian and breast cancer, which can be passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the family increases the risk of this neoplasia compared to the general population.
In this case – underlines Dr. Garassino – genetic consultation is therefore important for a correct evaluation of the risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer and for setting up an adequate prevention and diagnostic path”.
Pregnancy and lifestyle
Other risk factors are closely related to the reproductive life of women. Women who have had more than one child – a reduction estimated at around 30% – and women who have had oral hormonal contraception for long periods of time are less exposed to the risk of ovarian cancer. With reference to the exit from the fertile period, women who have undergone hormone replacement therapy in menopause for at least ten years present a higher risk of cancer.
Finally, if you consider lifestyles, among the factors associated with increased likelihood of developing ovarian cancer are alcohol abuse, obesity and high fat diet; “quitting cigarette smoking has a general correlation with reducing the risk of recurrence of disease,” concludes the specialist.
