September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers. Because symptoms are often vague and difficult to recognize, it’s usually diagnosed at a later stage. While detecting ovarian cancer in its early stages can improve outcomes, it’s not always possible.
There is no screening or early detection test, which makes education and advocacy even more important. Awareness leads to funding, research, and access to life-changing support and care.
Risk factors for ovarian cancer are getting older, being obese, having children later in life or never having a full-term pregnancy, family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or colorectal cancer, personal history of breast cancer, certain inherited genetic mutations, some fertility treatments, and smoking.
Can ovarian cancer be prevented?
Although there is no known way to prevent ovarian cancer, there are certain things you can do to reduce your risk.
Birth control
Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) can reduce your risk of ovarian cancer by 30% to 50%. The longer you take birth control pills, the longer the protection lasts.
Childbirth and breastfeeding
Having a full-term pregnancy before the age of 26 can lower your risk of ovarian cancer. Each full-term pregnancy reduces your risk, and breastfeeding can reduce your risk even further.
Surgical Options:
For those at average risk:
- Hysterectomy/tubal ligationHaving your uterus removed (hysterectomy) or getting your tubes tied (tubal ligation) can reduce your risk of ovarian cancer. However, experts recommend these surgeries only for valid medical reasons, such as preventing pregnancy. If the ovaries are still present, there is still a risk of getting ovarian cancer.
- Opportunistic SalpingectomyRemoval of only the fallopian tubes is a procedure people can choose to have done at the time of other abdominal surgeries, in order to eliminate their risk of the most common form of ovarian cancer.
For those at higher risk:
- Salpingo-OophorectomySurgery to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries to treat or prevent disease. “Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy”, or RRSO refers to the removal of the healthy ovaries and fallopian tubes to reduce a person’s risk of developing cancer.
Source: National Ovarian Cancer Coalition www.ovarian.org
Author
R Ellen Eye, MD, FACOG
Rita Ellen Eye, MD is a board-certified OB/GYN physician who joined Premier OB-Gyn in 2014.
Dr. Eye is originally from Potosi, Missouri, a small town near St. Louis (and she remains a loyal fan of the St. Louis Cardinals!). She graduated from her high school as Valedictorian. She attended Missouri University of Science and Technology, earning her Biological Sciences degree while graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors. She received her doctoral degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006. Dr. Eye went on to complete her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and was honored by being elected Chief Resident at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa. She began her successful private practice in Texas where she lived and worked for four years before moving to Florida. She is married to husband Chet and a proud mom to a sweet daughter named Faith. Dr. Eye is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
