- Causes And Risk Factors Of Ovarian Cancer:
- It is still unknown the real cause of ovarian tumours. However several studies suggest the Several factors hormonal, environmental, and genetic variables may play a role in causing ovarian cancer. Some of the risk factors are discussed below:
Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of women's deaths. The peak incidence of ovarian cancer in late 50's While malignant germ cell cancer (one type of ovarian cancer) occurs in early 30's.when abnormal cells divides too fast a cellular mass or tumour is formed which doesn’t invade to surrounding and are within a cell, this is called benign tumours and if the tumour spread to surrounding tissue or organ it is called malignant or cancerous and the process in with this cells invade surrounding is called metastasis. There are 3 main types of ovarian cancer
Primary epithelial cancer comprises of 80-90% of all ovarian cancer and are classified into Serous (40%) Endometrioid (24%) Mucinous, clean cells, transitional cells and undifferentiated carcinoma. Among this serosa and endometrioids are more common.
Germ cell tumours include endodermal sinus malignancies, embryonal carcinoma (a rare ovarian cancer that appears in children), immature teratomas, and dysgerminoma.
Sex cord (stromal) tumours include granulosa cell tumors (that produce estrogen and may have feminizing effects), granulosa-theca cell tumours, and the rare arrhenoblastomas (that produce androgen and have virilizing effects).
Family history of ovarian cancer Woman has as high as a 50% risk of getting ovarian cancer if two or more first-degree relatives (mother, sister, daughter) have history of ovarian cancer. However women have less risk for second-degree relatives (grandmother, aunt, cousin).
Age: The risk of developing ovaries cancer increase with increase age. its incidence is high in late 50's.Over 50% of cancer occurs in women older than 60 years.
Menstrual history/pregnancy history: The risk of developing ovaries cancer is high in early menarche (less than 12 yrs) and late menopause (greater than 50 yrs). Late first child birth (after 35 yrs) may also be associated with risk of developing cancer.
Personal history: Women who have breast cancer or other cancer have high risk of ovarian cancer then women who had not any previous cancer.
Talcum powder: Some have suggested that women who apply talcum powder to the genital area or sanitary napkins have higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.
High-fat diet: High fat diet is also linked in causing cancer, especially obesity is involve in risk of causing cancer.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): There are some evidence that women who receives HRT after menopause have slightly increase risk for cancer but only with high dose and long-term use.
Other Risk factors may be repeated radiography of pelvis, late menarche and artificial menopause.
Acquired genetic mutations: Researcher have suggested that genetic mutations of DNA alter oncogenes (genes that promote cancer cell division) tumour suppressor genes (cancer preventing genes) and other genes may results in high risk for ovarian cancer. Acquired mutations of the HER2 oncogene or the p53 tumour suppressor gene may be associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer.
Author: Dr.Deepak Ghimire zonemedicine.com Picture © ~C4Chaos
