If women in these high-risk categories become more aware of their susceptibility to subsequent cancer, they can take steps to get early screenings. The research was conducted by Dr. Wendy Brewster and her colleagues at UCI's College of Medicine . The study found that women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50 had a 30 percent higher risk of getting ovarian cancer than expected in the general population. Women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer between ages 15 and 39, and also Hispanic and Asian women under 50, had the greatest risks of subsequent ovarian cancer. It's important, especially for younger women and those with high-risk ethnic backgrounds, to be aware of their risks and talk to their doctors about getting the necessary screening for cancer.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the United States.
Last year, about 180,000 new cases were diagnosed and an estimated 13,500 women died from the disease. Heightened public awareness and increased breast cancer screening has resulted in lower death rates and higher rates of new diagnoses. Although ovarian cancer diagnoses were much lower, with about 25,400 new cases reported last year, approximately 14,500 women died from the disease. Breast cancer survivors may be more susceptible than normal to ovarian cancer because of these shared risks. The more we understand about these risks, the more we increase the chances of diagnosing ovarian cancer in its early, more easily treatable stages.