This year, about 22,440 women will receive new diagnoses of ovarian cancer and 14,080 women will die from the cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women – more than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. The good news, however, is that the rate at which women are diagnosed has been slowly falling over the past 20 years.

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Even though the cancer is mainly found in older women, it’s a great time for women of all ages to review the risk factors and symptoms of this deadly disease.

Having a risk factor, or even several of them, does not mean that you will get ovarian cancer. And many people who are diagnosed do not have any of the known risk factors. However, it is still important to be aware of the risk factors, which are listed below.

• Age – the risk of developing ovarian cancer increase with age. In fact, half of all cases are found in women 63 years of age or older.
• Obesity – women with a body mass index of at least 30 have a higher risk.
• Reproductive history – women who have their first full-term pregnancy after age 35, or who never carried a pregnancy to term, have a higher risk.
• Birth control – women who have used oral contraceptives have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. The risk is lower the longer the pills are used.
• Gynecologic surgery – tubal ligations (having your tubes tied) and hysterectomies (removing the uterus without removing the ovaries) may reduce the chance of developing ovarian cancer.
• Fertility drugs – these drugs seem to increase the risk of some types of ovarian tumors. If you are taking fertility drugs, you should discuss the potential risks with your doctor.
• Family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer or colorectal cancer – ovarian cancer risk is increased if your mother, sister or daughter has (or has had) ovarian cancer. The risk also gets higher the more relatives you have with ovarian cancer.

Often, ovarian cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms until after it has spread. Even then, it causes vague symptoms. They are similar to those of many other more common diseases. The symptoms may include:

• Indigestion, heartburn, nausea or gas.
• Belly swelling or discomfort.
• Pelvic pain or cramping.
• Bloating or a sense of fullness, especially after eating.
• Backache.
• Painful, frequent or burning during urination with no infection.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Fatigue.
• Loss of appetite or unintentional weight loss or gain.
• Vaginal bleeding or irregular periods.
• Pain during intercourse.

For more information from the American Cancer Society on ovarian cancer, please click here.