Three Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Ovarian Cancer

Most often occurring in women over 50, ovarian cancer is the 4th leading cause of death among cancer in women. There are things that you can do to reduce your risk of ovarian cancer.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

A woman's ovaries hold her eggs used for reproduction. Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor in the ovaries. Only women can get ovarian cancer.

Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer

If you have never been pregnant, you are at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

If you started your period before age 12, you are at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

If you experience early menopause which is menopause symptoms before age 45, you are at risk of developing ovarian cancer.

The biggest risk factor for developing ovarian cancer is a family history. You should look at all females in your family on both your mother's side of the family and your father's side of the family. Look at not only your mom, sister and grandmother, but also your aunts, cousins, great grandmother and your mothers cousins.

3 Types of Foods to Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Ovarian Cancer

Here are three things that you can do each day to reduce your risk of getting ovarian cancer and help fight it if you already have ovarian cancer.

1. Eat whole grains for breakfast to keep your hormones balanced.

2. Eat green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collard greens every night. Green vegetables contain flavonoids that fight free radicals. These types of vegetables are excellent antioxidants that fight cancer.

3. Eat cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower at dinner every night. Broccoli and cauliflower are a powerful tools to fight off cancer.

Reduce Your Risk of Getting Ovarian Cancer

Birth control pills and pregnancy prevent damage to the ovaries and reduces your risk of developing ovarian cancer. If you are using birth control pills or you are pregnant, an egg does not drop down and therefore your ovary works less and acquires less damage.

Visit your doctor regularly and let her know your family history and medical history. If you do have a family history of ovarian cancer, make sure that your doctor knows the circumstances surrounding the cancer and who it was that had cancer. Eat healthy foods such as whole grains, green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables every day to fight ovarian cancer and other cancers. Take of yourself today to avoid illness and disease in the future.

Source:

Dr. Oz Show 10/26/10