Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: International/WomensDay

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: International/WomensDay: For International Women's Day 2017, we're asking you to  #BeBoldForChange Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge...

International/WomensDay

For International Women's Day 2017, we're asking you to 

#BeBoldForChange

Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world
- a more inclusive, gender equal world

                                                               March 8, 2017

Ovarian Cancer Month

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even if it spreads to other body parts later.

When cancer starts in the ovaries, it is called ovarian cancer. Women have two ovaries that are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries make female hormones and produce eggs.

Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. But when ovarian cancer is found in its early stages, treatment works best. Ovarian cancer often causes signs and symptoms, so it is important to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. Symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional.

Changes, or mutations, in BRCA genes can raise your risk for ovarian cancer. Know the BRCA tools can help you understand your risk of having a BRCA gene mutation, or mutations.

Why BRCA Gene Mutations Matter

Not every woman who has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation will get breast or ovarian cancer, but having a gene mutation puts you at an increased risk for these cancers.

• About 50 out of 100 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation will get breast cancer by the time they turn 70 years old, compared to only 7 out of 100 women in the general United States population.
• About 30 out of 100 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation will get ovarian cancer by the time they turn 70 years old, compared to fewer than 1 out of 100 women in the general U.S. population.

If you have a family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, you may have a higher breast cancer risk. Talk to your doctor about these ways of reducing your risk—

• Antiestrogens or other medicines that block or decrease estrogen in your body.
• Surgery to reduce your risk of breast cancer---Prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy (removal of breast tissue).
  • Prophylactic (preventive) salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes).

It is important that you know your family history and talk to your doctor about screening and other ways you can lower your risk. For more information about breast cancer prevention,

 visit:   Breast Cancer (PDQ) Prevention      Breast Cancer (PDQ): Prevention.

Reference

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/young_women/bringyourbrave/hereditary_breast_cancer/brca_gene_mutations.htm