Ovarian cancer causes and risk factors

Cancer can attack any cell in the body, including the ovaries (ovaries). The ovaries are the female reproductive glands that are responsible for producing eggs as well as the main source of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. When disease occurs, ovarian cancer symptoms such as digestive problems will continue to occur. So, what causes cancer to attack the ovaries? Come on, see the following explanation.

What causes ovarian cancer?

Reporting from the page of the American Cancer Society (ACS), the exact cause of cancer that attacks the ovaries is not certain, although health experts have found various factors that can increase the risk.

In general, cancer is caused by mutations in DNA in cells. DNA, which contains instructions for cells to function properly, is damaged, making cells abnormal.

As a result, cells continue to divide without control and are not replaced by new, healthy cells. In some cases, cancer cells can create tumors, spread to surrounding tissues or organs (metastasize) and damage them.

The most recent report from the ACS regarding the causes of ovarian cancer is that cancer does not always originate in the ovaries, but can also originate at the tail end of the fallopian tube.

Factors that cause ovarian cancer risk increases

Although the cause is unknown, researchers have found a number of things that can increase the risk of ovarian cancer, including:

1. Increasing age

The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age. This is because cancer is very rare in women under the age of 40 years and over. Most cases of ovarian cancer attack postmenopausal women, which is more common in women aged 63 years or over.

So, what makes age a cause that can increase the risk of ovarian cancer? Health experts believe that every cell in the body will break down over time. Sometimes the body can repair the damaged cells. However, some of the damaged cells are not repaired, continue to accumulate, and eventually lead to cancer in the body.

2. Excess weight or obesity

Obesity indicates excess body weight, which can increase the risk of various diseases, one of which is ovarian cancer. This factor causes ovarian cancer to increase in two ways, namely:

• Obesity causes inflammation that can damage cell DNA over time.
• Excess fat tissue in the body will produce more amounts of estrogen, which increases the risk of ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and breast cancer.

3. Hormone therapy after menopause

Hormone therapy is used as a treatment to relieve menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Unfortunately, this treatment is known to increase the risk of ovarian cancer in women. This is because the addition of artificial hormones that resemble the hormones estrogen or progesterone can stimulate cells in certain areas of the body to become abnormal.

4. Pregnant at old age or never getting pregnant

The age for having children is indeed an important consideration. Not only does it prevent pregnancy complications, but also prevents increasing the risk of cancer.

Studies show that the first pregnancy at the age of 35 years can be a cause of increasing the risk of ovarian cancer. The risk is also increased in women who have had several miscarriages or who are not pregnant.

Therefore, deciding when is the best age to get pregnant or not to get pregnant at all, it would be better based on the doctor's consideration from a health point of view.

5. Have a smoking habit

Smoking is a bad habit that can increase the risk of various chronic diseases. In fact, it triggers various types of cancer, such as lung cancer and ovarian cancer, a type of epithelial tumor (cancer cells on the outer surface of the ovaries).

Study published in International Journal Of Cancer shows that the chemicals in cigarettes are carcinogens (cancer-causing) which can accelerate tumor growth, increase the risk of recurrence, and a poor response to current ovarian cancer treatment.

6. Join the IVF program

Women who cannot conceive a fetus naturally will usually be recommended to follow the IVF program. However, health experts have found that this action can be a cause of increased risk of ovarian cancer, a type of borderline epithelial tumor.

In addition to this pregnancy program, researchers are still looking at the increased risk of ovarian cancer for women using fertility drugs.

7. Breast cancer sufferers

If the doctor diagnoses breast cancer, the person also has a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer. The existence of this cancer could be caused by mutations in DNA in the cells in the body or from genes inherited from the family.

8. Family cancer syndrome

As many as 25% of cases of ovarian cancer are known to have a background with family cancer syndromes resulting from changes in certain inherited gene mutations. For more details, let us know the causes of increasing the risk of this cancer.

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC)

This syndrome is caused by an inherited mutation of genes, namely the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, as well as possibly several other undiscovered genes. A person who is inherited this gene has a high risk of developing ovarian cancer, breast cancer and other cancer risks.

Women with the BRCA1 gene have a 35-70% risk of developing ovarian cancer. Meanwhile, women with BRCA2 have a 10% and 30% risk of ovarian cancer by age 70.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer syndrome (HNPCC)

Women with this syndrome have a higher risk of colon cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer than people without the syndrome. Several types of genes that cause HNPCC syndrome are MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, and EPCAM.

The syndrome, also known as Lynch syndrome, can increase the risk of ovarian cancer by 10% and 1% in epithelial tumors.

Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome

The causative factor that increases the risk of further ovarian cancer is Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. The syndrome caused by the STK11 gene mutation causes polyps to form in the stomach and intestines in adolescence. Women with this syndrome are at risk of developing types of ovarian cancer, such as epithelial tumors and stromal tumors.

MUTYH-related polyposis

MUTYH gene mutations that are inherited from the family cause polyps in the large intestine and small intestine so that you are at risk of developing colon cancer, bladder cancer and ovarian cancer.

Another gene linked to hereditary ovarian cancer

Apart from the gene mutations mentioned above, there are other types of genes that are known to be linked to ovarian cancer. These gene types are ATM, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D, and PALB2.

Another factor contributing to the high risk of ovarian cancer

The factors that have been previously mentioned have been confirmed to increase the risk of ovarian cancer. However, health experts don't stop there. They continue to do more in-depth research on various things that exist in the environment that may have the potential to trigger cell damage and DNA mutations in cells.

The following are some of the factors that indicate the potential for ovarian cancer to increase, but need further research.

1. Diet that is not right

In general, foods that can increase your risk of cancer are known to contain carcinogens, such as baked goods. However, foods that can increase the risk of ovarian cancer have not been studied more closely, possibly having a close link that causes obesity, such as foods high in fat.

Currently, health experts recommend adopting a healthy diet, which is to increase vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds to prevent ovarian cancer.

2. High levels of androgen hormones

In women, androgen hormones are produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat cells. Androgens are the same as male hormones, namely testosterone, only lower levels in women. Research is still doing further research on the mechanism of androgens to cells around the ovaries.

3. Use talc powder in the vagina

Talc powder sprinkled directly on the vagina or pads and condoms can increase the risk of ovarian cancer. However, not all talcum powder. The study found this possibility in the asbestos talcum powder. Even so, the risk of the increase is still small and is still being studied by scientists.

What is the importance of knowing the causes of ovarian cancer?

Knowing the causes and risk factors for ovarian cancer is important. Moreover, for people who are at high risk for this disease, By knowing the causes, health professionals can find various things that will later be used as measures to reduce risks and prevent them. For example, women who have a complete pregnancy process can reduce the risk of this disease.

Then, hysterectomy or surgery to remove the uterus can also affect the risk of ovarian cancer in women. Partial hysterectomy (partial) and total hysterectomy, do not remove the ovaries so that the risk of cancer in these organs is still there.

However, if this procedure is performed by salpingo-oophorectomy, the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries will be removed. The chances of getting ovarian cancer will disappear completely because the ovaries are gone. Even so, this does not mean you are free from the risk of other types of cancer. So, still consult your health at the doctor.