Carrying excess weight can raise the risk of ovarian cancer. According to a report released today by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Each year in the U.S. alone, 14,000 women lose the battle with ovarian cancer. It’s one of the most difficult cancers to detect which is part of the reason it’s the fifth deadliest cancer.
The Ovarian Cancer 2014 Report:
Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Ovarian Cancer used information from 25 population studies that looked at weight, diet and activity in women and their link to developing ovarian cancer. In total, 4 million women were studied and 16,000 of those women had ovarian cancer. The risk for ovarian cancer rose 6 percent for every 5 points of increase in Body Mass Index, or BMI.
Ovarian cancer joins a list of eight other cancers. However, they are associated with higher risk factors for people who are overweight. They have heavy breast, colorectal, esophageal, kidney, gallbladder, pancreatic, thyroid and endometrial. AICR estimates that a healthy weight could prevent 1 in 5 of these nine combined cancers.
“This is an important finding because it shows a way for women to reduce their chances of getting ovarian cancer,” said Elisa V. Bandera, MD, PhD, one of the report panelists, in an AICR release. “Now we can tell women that keeping a healthy weight can help protect against this deadly disease.”
The reported findings cannot be taken simply at face value though, according to KnowMore’s OB/Gyn expert, Dr. Evelyn Minaya. Moreover, he reviewed the research and conclusions.
“I find this report not very conclusive at all for a few reasons,” “We know that a higher BMI puts women at risk for breast and endometrial cancers, but based on this data, I don’t think the same is true for ovarian cancer.”
Risk Factors of Developing Ovarian Cancer
While maintaining a balanced weight is certainly smart, Dr. Minaya hopes this report doesn’t overshadow the other risk factors for developing ovarian cancer, which include:
- Constant ovulation, with no interruption to have children
- Family history of ovarian cancer
- Relative or personal history of the BRCA gene (a genetic mutation that increases breast cancer, and ovarian cancer, susceptibility)
- History of endometriosis
She also points out that for people with these risk factors. The Society of Gynecologic Oncology has found that birth control pills can decrease the chance of developing ovarian cancer by 50 percent after five years of use.
“So the takeaway is this. Eat right, and be active. But do not think that just because you are a healthy weight your risk for developing ovarian cancer is necessarily reduced,” said Dr. Minaya.
However, report panelist Dr. Bandera stands by the findings, saying by phone that a higher risk for ovarian cancer is “probable” based on the combined research.
“Ovarian cancer is rare, so it is difficult to gather a lot of data on it, which is why these combined studies were helpful,” said Dr. Bandera. “Based on this information, if women can maintain a healthy weight, their risk for ovarian cancer is reduced.”
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