Those at high risk for ovarian cancer include women whose mothers, sisters or daughters have or have had ovarian cancer, and women who have had breast cancer. Researchers say women who took fertility drugs for an extended period of time without becoming pregnant may also be at risk. In addition, some studies indicate women who started menstruating before age 12, had no children or their first child after age 30, and who experienced menopause after age 50 may have an increased risk. Like most cancers, the best weapon in battling ovarian cancer is early detection. Unfortunately, only about 25 percent of women with ovarian cancer have their cancer detected while it's still in such an early stage.
Some women say they never experienced symptoms at all.
And women don't usually experience symptoms right away. Early Detection Difficult To complicate matters further, women and their physicians are pretty much flying blind when it comes to screening and early detection. At this point, the best we can do is advise women to get a routine physical and a pelvic exam every year. During a pelvic exam, the physician feels the ovaries and uterus for size, shape and consistency. For women at high risk for ovarian cancer, physicians may perform a CA-125 blood test.