While ovarian cancer is not nearly as prevalent as breast cancer, it is just as concerning. Guy Benrubi, MD, at , explained that if you are a woman without a family history of ovarian cancer, your chances of developing it in your lifetime is only 1.7% as opposed to 11% with a history of breast cancer.

鈥淎 woman is 10 times less likely to develop ovarian cancer than breast cancer unless you have a family history,鈥� Benrubi said. 鈥淭he problem with ovarian cancer, is that by the time it is diagnosed it usually fairly advanced.鈥�

How can ovarian cancer be detected?

There is absolutely no good screening test for ovarian cancer because using ultrasounds or pelvic evaluations often cause more problems than they solve. There are also no specific symptoms associated with the early stages of ovarian cancer.

鈥淪o normally the early symptom is bloating, but you can鈥檛 do a laparoscopy on every woman that bloats,鈥� Benrubi said. 鈥淭he other problem is that if you have bloating, by that point it鈥檚 already pretty advanced. So very early cancer that is only in the ovary probably has no symptoms.鈥�

How can ovarian cancer be prevented?

Unfortunately, there鈥檚 little you can do to prevent this type of cancer. However, three years of oral contraceptives decrease the risk of ovarian cancer by 50 percent. If you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, chemotherapy can help.

鈥淭hirty-seven years ago when I started training, from the time you were diagnosed to the time you died was usually two years maximum,鈥� Beruni said. 鈥淣ow I have patients who will live for 10 years. They may need several rounds of chemotherapy, but they鈥檙e still alive today.鈥�

Which populations have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer?

Some women who have the BRCA1 gene are at a much higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. If a woman has a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, genetic testing is recommended. Benrubi suggests that women have genetic testing in case they have the gene and want to consider prophylactic, or elective, surgery to remove the ovaries or breasts to reduce the risk of cancer.

鈥淥nly about 10% of women with ovarian cancer are going to have some sort of genetic mutation,鈥� Benrubi said. 鈥�90% is sporadic 鈥� it just happens.鈥�

Since there are no real symptoms associated with very early ovarian cancer, it鈥檚 important for women to know their family histories. Are there breast, colon or ovarian cancers in the family? If there are, they need speak to a specialist.

An initial examination is most often done by an specialist. If cancer is suspected, the patient will be referred to a gynecologic oncologist for further evaluation, treatment and follow-up care. To schedule an appointment with a physician, please call 904-633-0411 or visit .