As the fifth cause of cancer death among women in the United States, ovarian cancer is a significant disease, according to the American Cancer Society. It's also the top killer of women of all the cancers affecting the reproductive system. Although the cause of ovarian cancer is unknown, certain factors---including obesity---can increase your risk of developing this disease.
Types
Ovarian cancer occurs in three types, which are classified based on where the cancer cells originally begin to develop. The most common form involves epithelial tumors that form outside of the ovaries. Epithelial ovarian cancer develops on the organs' outer tissue layer. Another type of ovarian cancer involves stromal tumors and forms in the ovarian tissues that produce the hormones progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. Germ cell tumors develop in the part of the ovaries that produces eggs; this type is more common in younger women, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are similar to those of other, less serious health conditions, such as bladder or digestive problems. Once they develop, symptoms typically increase in severity over time. Common signs include low pack pain, frequent urination, abdominal bloating, fatigue, decreased hunger, constipation, indigestion and nausea. See your gynecologist or other physician if you are experiencing these symptoms for a period of several days; women often wait until symptoms are so severe that once they receive a diagnosis, the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body.
Effects of Obesity
Studies reveal that being obese is associated with having a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. In addition, obese women are more likely to die from the disease than women who have a healthy weight. In fact, the American Cancer Society reports that the risk of dying from ovarian cancer increases by 50 percent in the most obese women diagnosed with the disease. A Cedars-Sinai study published in 2006 in the journal "Cancer" revealed that obese women were not only more likely to die from ovarian cancer but also experienced recurrences of the disease in a shorter amount of time compared with women of healthy weight.
Other Risk Factors
In addition to obesity, other factors can increase the likelihood that you will develop ovarian cancer including age, genetics and the use of certain prescription drugs. Women who have gone through menopause are at greater risk; more than half of diagnoses occur in those over 63, according to the ACS. Having a family history of ovarian, colon or breast cancer is also a risk factor. Never giving birth, taking hormone therapy or using fertility drugs for longer than a year can also increase your chances of developing cancerous tumors in the ovaries.
Reducing Risk
The American Cancer Society reports that some research studies found that eating a healthy diet may reduce your chances of having ovarian cancer. One such study found that women who ate a low-fat diet for a minimum of four years had a lower risk for this form of cancer; however, more research is needed to examine the relationship between nutrition and ovarian cancer. Having a tubal ligation or hysterectomy is also associated with decreased cancer risk. Taking birth control pills for more than five years can lower your chances of having ovarian cancer significantly, according to the ACS.
References
- American Cancer Society: Ovarian Cancer---What Are the Key Statistics About Ovarian Cancer?
- Mayo Clinic: Ovarian Cancer
- American Cancer Society: Can Ovarian Cancer Be Found Early?
- American Cancer Society: What Are the Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer?
- Cedars-Sinai: Obesity Leads to More Aggressive Ovarian Cancer, Cedars-Sinai Research Shows
