What are the causes?
The two most important factors are age
and family history
The
two most important factors are age – with likelihood increasing after 50,
though younger women can get it too – and family history. A strong family
history is classed as two or more cases of ovarian and/or breast cancer. Though
this increases risk, it doesn’t necessarily mean someone will get ovarian
cancer. You should tell your GP about a strong family history.
Mr
Razvi says, “Cancer is caused by several stepwise changes to DNA in cells; in
some types, we know what the trigger is (eg smoking in lung cancer), but in 90
per cent of cases of ovarian cancer, we simply don’t know. There is some
evidence that women who don’t have children or have fewer pregnancies are more
likely to be affected, so we have to ask if the process of incessant ovulation
is involved. This is confirmed by research that shows women who take the
contraceptive pill (which suppresses ovulation) long-term are less likely to
suffer ovarian cancer.
“In
ten per cent of cases, we do know there is a specific gene at fault: both the
BRCA family of genes (commonly associated with breast cancer) and the
Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC) gene. Women who have a family
history of ovarian, breast, womb and colon cancer can be referred to a genetics
service to ascertain their risks and may be offered screening”
Lynn
Holmes adds, “We don’t know what causes it yet, so we can’t tell you how to
prevent it. Some women think a cervical smear will detect ovarian cancer, but
this is not the case and it can still develop even after a hysterectomy”
Screening test
Scientists
are evaluating results of two large-scale UK trials. Prof Ian Jacobs, lead
researcher and new Head of the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre
(MSHSC), says, “we are not ready to report the results, but analysis shows the
tests pick up 85 per cent of women who go on to develop ovarian cancer”
Linda Drew, 46, an operations director from Penarth, South
Wales, who’s single, learned she had cancer in July 2010
“When I went to see my GP, I was told
that symptoms were Irritable Bowel Syndrome”
I
suffered constant stomach bloating, extreme fatigue and a bladder that wouldn’t
stop complaining, but numerous visits to my GP resulted in the suggestion that
I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome or perhaps gallstones. Initially reassured, I
tried dieting to reduce my expanded waistline, but it had absolutely no result.
I started buying trousers two sizes larger than I needed – just for the
waistband. Still concerned, I resorted to check-up at a private health clinic
and when they gave me the all-clear, I tried to stop worrying. But when a
medical friend heard me complain about my symptoms, he asked to examine my
tummy.
“Feel
this, Linda” he told me. As he guided my fingers over my tummy, I could feel
two massive lumps. I was referred to a consultant. A CA-125 blood test known as
a tumour marker for ovarian cancer fond my levels were raised to 3,600 (the
average is 30)
When
I was told it was cancer, I looked on the Internet and found that ovarian
cancer is called the silent killer because it is so often detected too late. I
was so upset, I wrote a will and letters of goodbye to my family.
Within
a week, I was given a full hysterectomy and two cysts were removed. They
drained seven and a half litres of fluid, and I lost at the same time.
Recovery
was hard, and I was angry. I had been complaining to my GP for a year without
being taken seriously. Plus my body went into surgically induced menopause. It
was a tough time. Seeing a counselor helped; she nurtured me into believing I
could start living again.
I’m now very vigilant about my health, but
have been warned it will probably come back because ovarian cancer recurs so
often. Yet I am beginning to feel better and am determined to spread the world
about awareness. Best of all, I’m daring to set goals now – I’m even making
plans for a 50th birthday in Las Vegas.
