Take the quiz: How much do you know about ovarian cancer?

Take the quiz: How much do you know about ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is one of the five leading causes of cancer related death in American women and September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, marked by the color teal. How much do you know about the cancer? Take this quiz to find out and scroll down to see the answers and read more about each one.

  1. A Pap test can detect ovarian cancer.

True    False

  1. The majority of ovarian cancers are detected at an advanced stage.

True    False

  1. Most people who develop the cancer have a family history.

True    False

  1. Birth control pills reduce the risk for developing ovarian cancer.

True    False

  1. The gene for hereditary ovarian cancer may be passed from father to daughter.

True    False

  1. For the general population, CA 125 is an effective screening test for ovarian cancer.

True    False

  1. Most women with ovarian cancer have symptoms months before diagnosis.

True    False

  1. Some women who develop breast cancer may be at increased risk for developing ovarian cancer.

True    False

  1. Exercise, healthy diet and weight control are preventive measures for many cancers.

True    False

  1. Having one’s ovaries removed eliminates the chance of developing ovarian cancer.

True    False

Answers

  1. False – There’s no consistently reliable, accurate screening test to detect ovarian cancer. The Pap test does not detect ovarian cancer.
  1. True – Unfortunately, almost 70 percent of women with the common epithelial ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until the disease is in advanced stages.
  1. False – Although many women have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer, only about five to 10 percent of ovarian cancers are thought to be the result of inherited cancer susceptibility genes. A family history of ovarian or breast cancer may or may not indicate that one has inherited an increased likelihood of developing cancer.
  1. True – Birth control pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, especially among women who use them for several years. Women who have used oral contraceptives for three years or more have about a 30 to 50 percent lower risk of developing ovarian cancer compared with women who have never used oral contraceptives.
  1. True – To date, two main susceptibility genes for breast and ovarian cancer have been identified: BRCA1 and BRCA2. Everyone carries two copies of each of these genes. If a woman inherits an alteration, or mutation, in one of her BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes from either of her parents, her chances of developing ovarian and breast cancer are significantly higher than that of the general population.
  1. False – The CA125 blood test is used to measure the level of the protein CA-125. Elevated levels of CA-125 are often in higher-than-normal amounts in the blood of women with ovarian cancer. Overall, more than 80 percent of women with advanced ovarian cancer will have an elevated CA-125 level, but the test is not useful in detecting early stages of disease (it’s approximately 50 percent accurate). Unfortunately, the CA125 blood test is even less reliable for detecting cancer in pre-menopausal women because it’s frequently elevated by non-cancerous conditions such as pregnancy, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, liver disease and benign ovarian cysts.
  1. True – While the symptoms of ovarian cancer (particularly in the early stages) are often not acute or intense, they are not silent. There are some potential signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, including:
    • Pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort
    • Vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea or indigestion
    • Frequency or urgency of urination in the absence of an infection
    • Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
    • Pelvic or abdominal swelling, bloating or a feeling of fullness
    • Ongoing unusual fatigue
    • Unexplained changes in bowel habits
  1. True – A woman’s risk is often related to her personal genes. Mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Patients with a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer may also have an elevated risk. A certified genetic counselor can evaluate your personal risk and determine if you need further genetic testing to assess your risk and what can be done to lower it.
  1. True – According to the American Cancer Society, eating right, being active and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of cancer as well as other diseases.
  1. False – The removal of one’s ovaries eliminates the risk for ovarian cancer, but not the risk of primary peritoneal cancer. Primary peritoneal cancer is closely rated to epithelial ovarian cancer. Primary peritoneal cancer acts and is treated like ovarian cancer.

Adapted from the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition website, 2013.

Posted In Cancer, Health Information, Pregnancy, Women's