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Some of the warning signs of Ovarian Cancer include Age, Genetics, Ethnicity, Diet, and Reproductive history below are a description of each warning sign.

Age
The incidence of ovarian cancer rises with age. Half of all cases are detected in women older than 65, and most are diagnosed after age 60. The American Cancer Society recommends annual pelvic exams for all women over age 40 to increase the chances of early detection.

Genetics
Women with a family history of ovarian cancer face an increased risk. Having one close relative with the disease increases the risk threefold, and the more relatives with the disease, the greater the risk.

Part of the increased familial risk can be explained by genetic mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which normally help protect against both breast and ovarian cancer. Women who inherit mutations in BRCA1 have a 50 percent risk of developing the disease, while a mutation in the BRCA2 genes results in a 20 percent risk. A mutation in another gene that normally protects against a type of colon cancer called hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer also raises the risk of ovarian cancer, but to a lesser degree than mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Families that carry mutations in these genes can come from any background, but a National Cancer Institute study found that the mutations are highest among Asheknazi Jews (whose ancestors came from Eastern and Central Europe); about 2 percent of all Asheknazi Jews carry mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2.

Ethnicity
The incidence of ovarian cancer is highest among white women in Europe and North America and lowest among black women regardless of their location. Incidence is also low among Asian women, but this is probably due in part to environmental factors because their rate rises when they move to Western countries and adopt the lifestyles and diets of their new location.

Diet
Population studies show that ovarian cancer rates are highest in affluent societies where diets tend to be high in fat. Animal fats (the kind found in red meats, whole milk or cheese) appear to be most closely linked to ovarian cancer.

Reproductive history
Risks are greater for women who have no or few children or have delayed childbearing until after age 35. Ovarian cancer is also more common in women who begin menstruating before age 12 or reach menopause after age 50.

It is hypothesized that the longer a woman is exposed to estrogen, the higher her risk of ovarian cancer. Since high levels of estrogen are present only during the childbearing years, the longer the woman menstruates, the higher her risk.

Childbearing may reduce risk by providing nine-month “rests” from ovulation during pregnancy, thereby reducing a woman’s overall exposure to estrogen.

The drugs clomiphene citrate and pergonal, which are commonly used to treat infertility, also appear to increase the risk of ovarian cancer when used for more than three cycles.

Birth control pills
Women who take birth control pills are at lower risk for ovarian cancer, perhaps because the pill suppresses ovulation and reduces exposure to estrogen. The longer a woman is on the pill, the lower the risk.

Talcum powder and asbestos
Habitual use of talcum powder on the genital area may increase the risk for ovarian cancer, but the evidence is not strong. A study at Harvard Medical School found that using talc this way doubled the risk, but other studies found no increased risk. Some researchers believe that talc may be carcinogenic because it contains particles of asbestos, a known carcinogen. It’s been shown that rates of ovarian cancer are higher than normal in women whose jobs expose them to asbestos.

Other cancers
Women with a history of breast or endometrial cancer have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. This association may be due to genetic mutations or to such factors as diet and estrogen exposure, which also increase the risks for these other types of cancer.