Ovarian Cancer and Older Women
One of the biggest risk factors to keep in mind is age. Ovarian cancer is far more common in women between 40-60 years old. The cancer is rarer in women who are younger than 40, but it can still happen. Additionally, half of ovarian cancer cases in the United States are found in women who are older than 63.
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Age compounds with being overweight or obese. Currently, the link is not entirely clear, but it is believed that older women with a BMI of 30 or more are at a much higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. Obesity may also affect your chance of survival should you develop any kind of cancer.
Another factor is whether or not you have chosen to use hormone therapy post-menopause. Women who have chosen to use estrogen or progesterone after menopause are at a greater risk of getting ovarian cancer than those who do not use hormone therapy.
If there has been cases of breast cancer, uterine cancer, prostate cancer, or pancreatic cancer in your family, you may be at a greater risk, so be sure to get regularly checked, especially once you have experienced menopause.
