Reducing Your Risk of Ovarian Cancer
Reducing Your Risk of Ovarian Cancer
At this time, there are no specific guidelines for the prevention of
ovarian cancer
because the cause is unknown; however, women who have had children and who have breastfed them are at lower risk for developing ovarian cancer.
Genetic testing may help identify patients who should consider having a
salpingo-oophorectomy
. This procedure involves removing both ovaries and the fallopian tubes. It may be done, in some cases, to prevent ovarian cancer in high-risk women, such as:
- Women with a first degree relative with ovarian or breast cancer
- Women who have had breast cancer before age 40
- Women who test positive for a genetic mutation (BRCA1 or BRCA2)
The surgery is the only proven method to reduce the risk of getting this often fatal disease.
To reduce your risk:
- Have an annual health checkup with a pelvic exam
- Maintain a healthy weight so the doctor can easily feel your ovaries
References
Kasper DL, Harrison TR. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1998.
Ovarian cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/ovarian/ . Accessed April 8, 2009.
