Is Ovarian Cancer Hereditary?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 10, 2005 -- Is Ovarian Cancer Hereditary?


A woman can inherit an increased risk for ovarian cancer from either her mother or father's side of her family, particularly if a "first degree" relative (mother, sister, or daughter) has, or has had ovarian, breast, or colon cancer. Furthermore, women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer are more likely to develop the disease at an early age (younger than 50). Women of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish descent are also at greater risk if they have an affected family member.

Studies show that inheriting a defect in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene can also increase a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer by about 13 to 50 percent. Normally, these genes help to prevent cancer, but if a woman has inherited a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, her ovaries and breasts are more susceptible to the development of cancer.