Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Am I At Risk?

Cancer / Women's Health

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that affects the ovaries, which are part of the female reproductive system. It can develop when abnormal cells grow in and around the ovaries and fallopian tubes. 

Anyone who has ovaries can get ovarian cancer, however the chances increase for people over the age of 50. This type of cancer can sometimes be hereditary. 

It's estimated that there are around 4,100 deaths from ovarian cancer in the UK in every year. A rate of one woman every two hours. Because the symptoms are common and misdiagnosed, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late. The earlier ovarian cancer can be diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.

Am I at risk?

Family history and genetics: If two or more relatives from the same side of your family have had ovarian cancer under the age of 50, or there has been more than one case of ovarian and breast cancer in your family, you may have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

This is because you may have inherited a BRCA1/2 gene mutation. BRCA1/2 gene mutations are associated with an up to 60% chance of developing ovarian cancer.

Age:  Ovarian cancer has a strong association with age. Currently around 84% of cases are diagnosed in women over the age of 50, and more than half of all cases in women over 65. It is however important to remember that a women can get ovarian cancer at any age so women of all ages should be symptom aware.

A long menstrual history: Ovarian cancer is linked to increased ovulations, therefore a long menstrual history can increase risk of getting the disease.  Things that contribute to a long menstrual history include: starting periods earlier, reaching the menopause at a later age and never giving birth.

Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a common condition where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb (endometrium) is found in other parts of the body. It can appear in many different places, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, inside the tummy, and in or around the bladder or bowel. Research shows that women who have endometriosis are at increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Hormone Replacement Therapy:  Research shows that using oestrogen-only or combined HRT increases a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer. It is thought that only 1% of ovarian cancer cases are linked to HRT use, and women should discuss all risks and benefits with their consultant when making decisions about its use.

How can I reduce my risk?

Oral contraception: recent research shows that using the combined oral contraceptive pill can reduce a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer for up to 30 years. A woman should always discuss their contraceptive options with their GP and weigh up the risks and benefits.

Giving birth and breast feeding: Both of these things help to reduce the number of ovulations a woman has during her menstrual cycle and can therefore help reduce risk of ovarian cancer.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle: trying to maintain a healthy body weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise, along with not smoking can help reduce a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer.

Content sourced from Ovarian Cancer Action (ovarian.org.uk). Click here to view our Women's Health content.

Cancer Useful Resources

There are a number of health campaigns throughout the year to raise awareness of...
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s Email Forum – or E Forum – helps us keep up to date with...
Going through cancer can be an isolating experience at any time, and especially when...
Fatigue support is a telephone programme which includes 4 appointments with a Specialist...
We rely on our incredible volunteers to help us spread the word about prostate cancer,...
Call us for free, unbiased, confidential support and information. There's no such thing...
‘Engage’ training is a comprehensive one day programme which seeks to address the current...
Cancer Focus NI’s Art therapy service is for anyone affected by cancer. Art therapy helps...
Bupa is working in partnership with Macmillan to offer up to 6 free one-to-one...
When an adult in the family is diagnosed with cancer it affects the entire family. It can...
The Sexual support service is a chance for you, or your partner, to talk to one of our...
We’re a community of people in the UK receiving immunotherapy treatment for bowel cancer...
Cancer Focus NI, Keeping Well vans are mobile drop-in units which bring health checks,...
Our nurses are here to help. They can provide you with information, and signpost you to...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
The Macmillan Online Community is a free online place for people who are living with or...
There are so many ways to get involved, from cheering on a marathon runner to...
We’re a supportive and safe place for people with stage 4 bowel cancer living in the UK,...
Each month we run an online support group for men on active surveillance - a form of...
Zest for Life is a free 6-week programme led by a Cancer Focus NI facilitator. The course...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
Someone is diagnosed every 15 minutes. What do you know about bowel cancer? Book a free...
We're always looking for enthusiastic people to help with our work. We have a range of...
Whether you need help defining sparse brows and lashes, caring for nails that are...
We have a team of trained volunteers throughout the UK who carry out talks to groups both...
There are hundreds of prostate cancer support groups in the UK. We have details of many...
Cancer Focus NI is the only local cancer charity to provide a free cancer information and...
Cancer Focus NI can provide a wide range of presentations to meet the needs of your...
Treatment for cancer may mean you have to make many visits to hospital to see your...
Macmillan Grants are a one-off payment of £350 to help with the extra costs that living...
As part of this community, you can talk about whatever you want, from diagnosis to...
Living with prostate cancer can be hard to deal with emotionally, as well as physically...
We know that money is a big and often difficult thing to talk about when you’re living...
The Quick Fit programme offers positive steps to improve your health through diet and...
Affected by breast cancer? Join this group to share experiences and ask questions to...
Writing is well-known to have therapeutic benefits – it gives you a voice and a way of...
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s Email Forum – or E Forum – helps us keep up to date with...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
The important thing to remember when you’re affected by prostate disease is that you’re...
Welcome to the Caregiver Help & Support group. We're a supportive and safe place for...
Prostate Cancer UK have a team of trained volunteers throughout the UK who carry out...
Bowel Cancer UK Community — a place for anyone affected by bowel cancer to talk about...
Thrive is a community and safe space for younger women to connect with and support each...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...
LearnZone provides free and easy access to a wide variety of learning resources , online...
The Cancer Focus NI Well Aware service is aimed at the over 60s and is offered in a range...
Macmillan nurses are specialist cancer nurses with experience and qualifications in...
A healthy diet and regular physical activity may help you manage the effects of prostate...
After surgery and treatment for breast cancer, some women feel less confident about their...
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may experience feelings of shock, anger, or...

Cancer Articles & Videos

Cancer Helplines & Web Chats

Marie Curie - Helpline
Cancer Research UK - Helpline
Bowel Cancer UK - Forum
Bowel Cancer UK - Ask a Nurse
Macmillan Helpline
Cancer Focus - Nurse Line
Macmillan - Forum
Prostate Cancer UK - Forum
Macmillan - Ask an expert
Prostate Cancer UK - Specialist Nurse
Macmillan - Bereavement Forum