According to recent estimates by the United States government, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer, with an estimated 21,650 new cases in 2008, but is the fifth most deadly, with an estimated 15,520 deaths in 2008. The fact that there is a genetic health - ovarian cancer link has now been established beyond doubt. This is supported by the fact that there is an increased incidence of the cancer among women with a family history of ovarian cancer. Studies conducted on families have proven the existence of predispositions to ovarian cancer. Studies have also led to the identification of several genes as the cause of inherited cancer risk in families.



Reproductive, demographic, and lifestyle factors affect risk of developing ovarian cancer but the biggest ovarian cancer risk factor is a positive family history of the disease. This makes the genetic health ovarian cancer link even stronger. Studies have shown that you have three times more risk of developing ovarian cancer if you have a first - degree relative who has had it. Ovarian cancer has been clinically seen as a component of cancer syndromes which are most strongly associated with ovarian cancer are BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations.

There are some family characteristics which have been seen to predispose members to a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. These characteristics prove the genetic health ovarian cancer link. If a person has a familial predisposition to ovarian cancer , she would develop it at a much earlier age than in cases where no positive family history exists.She would also be prone to developing two or more primary cancers. For example a person with a positive family history of ovarian cancer may also have breast cancer in her lifetime. Predisposed women also have chances of developing other cancers and benign features sometimes.

Let us now look at some other factors which can also affect the genetic health ovarian cancer link. Age is one of the most important factors one must consider. The incidence of malignancy of the ovaries increases from 30 to 50 years. After that the risk increses but not at the same rate. The chances of developing ovarian cancer before the age of thirty is very less even in families with a genetic predisposition. Another important factor to look at is the number of children a woman has borne. Having no children at all is associtated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. This is also true for those who have a genetic predisposition to this cancer.

For women who take fertility drugs and remain childless, the risk of ovarian cancer is high. There is also mounting evidence showing that hormone replacement therapy after menopause is associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Surgeries like hysterectomy are associated with reduced ovarian cancer risk. This is true even for those who have a positive family history. Using oral contraceptives for 4 or more years is associated with an approximately 50% reduction in ovarian cancer risk in the general population.