Family History - A Risk For Ovarian Cancer
4 February 2004
The Ovarian Cancer Program
is urging women who have had close relatives diagnosed with ovarian
cancer to see their GP to have their risk of ovarian cancer investigated.
A new survey of over 3000 women has shown that women are not clear
about what influences their risk of ovarian cancer. However, increasing
age and family history are the two strongest known risk factors.
Associate Professor Judy Kirk, a genetics advisor to the Ovarian
Cancer Program, said "Family cancer history is important. The risk
increases with the number of first degree relatives (mother, sister,
daughter) affected by ovarian cancer. Where a woman has a number
of relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer the GP can refer her
to a familial cancer clinic for a thorough assessment and to determine
if genetic testing is required".
CEO of the Ovarian Cancer
Program Professor Christine Ewan said "Although only 1 in 100 women
will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, most are diagnosed at a later
stage, when treatment is less effective, because there are usually
no specific symptoms that can alert the woman or her doctor to the
problem at an early stage.
"Women who do have close
relatives with the disease should be more aware of the need to have
their risk assessed and monitored." The Ovarian Cancer Program is
developing guidelines for doctors on the assessment and subsequent
investigation of women who may have ovarian cancer. The guidelines
are due for release later this year.
The Ovarian Cancer Program is funded by the Department of Health
and Aging, and is an initiative of the National Breast Cancer Centre.
The Ovarian Cancer Program
works with women, health professionals, cancer organisations, researchers
and governments to improve the health outcomes for women with ovarian
cancer.
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