According to 2012 statistics from the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer in U.S. women. (This does not count certain skin cancers.) Ovarian cancer is most common in older women. It is a little more common in white women than in women of other ethnic groups. The risk of getting invasive ovarian cancer during a woman's lifetime is about 1 in 71, and the risk of dying from it is 1 in 95. This tool will help you determine if you are at risk for ovarian cancer. It is not a complete assessment of all risks. For a complete evaluation of your risks, see your health care provider.
Your assessment indicates you have one or more significant risk factors for ovarian cancer, making your overall risk of developing ovarian cancer high.
Your assessment indicates you have one or more moderate risk factors for ovarian cancer, making your overall risk of developing ovarian cancer moderate.
Your assessment indicates you have no significant or moderate risk factors for ovarian cancer, making your overall risk of developing ovarian cancer average for the general public.
Your risk factors and their significance, according to this assessment, are listed below.
Most women with ovarian cancer do not have known risk factors. Still, it is important to know about the medically recognized risk factors. According to the American Cancer Society, several specific factors have been discovered that increase a woman's likelihood of developing one type of ovarian cancer called epithelial ovarian cancer. These risk factors do not apply to other, less common types of ovarian cancer, such as germ cell tumors and stromal tumors. If this assessment shows you have risk factors, you should discuss them with your health care provider. The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with age. This cancer generally develops after menopause. Although most cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in older women, the disease can still occur in younger women.
Early cancers of the ovaries tend to cause symptoms that are relatively vague. They can be caused by many conditions that are not cancer. These symptoms include:
If you have these symptoms and you have risk factors for ovarian cancer, see your health care provider for a complete evaluation. If your risk is high, your provider may suggest more frequent evaluations. That way, if cancer develops, it can be detected and treated as early as possible. Some exams and tests that your health care provider might do are:
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional health care. Always consult with a health care provider for advice concerning your health. Only your health care provider can determine if you have ovarian cancer.
