Mansi, a 33-year-old techie, experienced pain in the pelvis area for over three months. The pain began in late 2022. She also started to feel bloated. A pelvic ultrasound showed the growth of ovarian cysts. When she panicked thinking she had ovarian cancer, her doctors explained the difference between ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer. “There are several facts and common myths about ovarian cancer which I learnt when I had cysts,” says Mansi.
Although ovarian cysts are quite common, experiencing them can cause anxiety but they are not cancerous, says Dr Shilpa Kava, Consultant – Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru.
In Mansi’s case, she had water filled cysts which were treated with medicines for three to four months. “Gradually the size of the cysts reduced and slowly disappeared,” Mansi told Happiest Health.
While ovarian cancer is a lethal cancer among women, doctors point out that the awareness about ovarian cancer can help in early detection and treatment. “It is equally important to understand what’s not ovarian cancer,” explain doctors.
Five myths about ovarian cancer
Myth #1: Any ovarian cyst is equivalent to ovarian cancer
Fact: Ovarian cysts are completely different from ovarian cancer.
“Being diagnosed with ovarian cysts does not necessarily mean one has ovarian cancer. Although some complicated ovarian cysts can increase the risk of cancer, most ovarian cysts are not dangerous. They do not even show symptoms and are not a sign of ovarian cancer risk in the future,” said Dr Kava.
Cysts in ovaries could be due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis (a condition where endometrial tissues grow outside the uterus) or hormonal. “These benign cysts are usually called functional cysts whereas ovarian cancer is a separate entity,” says Dr Duru Shah, gynecologist and Scientific Director of Gynaecworld and the Gynaecworld Assisted Fertility Center, Mumbai, India.
Dr Kava added, “Many younger women develop ovarian cysts, but are unaware of it as they may have no symptoms. Menopausal women are more likely to develop cysts that may turn out to be cancer.”
Myth #2: Only women with family history of ovarian cancer can develop it
Fact: Women without a family history of ovarian cancer can also develop ovarian cancer.
“Having genetic mutations in tumor suppressing genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 definitely increases the risk of having the cancer. But only 10-15 % of ovarian cancers occur due to a family history or genetic predisposition. There are also other risk factors that can cause ovarian cancer,” said Dr Shah.
Dr Kava added that familial risk associated with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes can increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer by 59% and 16.5%, respectively, at age 70. “Only 5-10% of cases of ovarian cancer are genetic in nature,” she said.
Myth #3: Only older women can get ovarian cancer
Fact: There is no age limit to get ovarian cancer
Though most ovarian cancer cases are seen among women aged above the age of 60 years, it can also be seen in young teenagers and women in their 20s, said Dr Kava. “The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age. Like other tumors, such as breast cancer or colon cancer, ovarian cancer has no distinguishing features,” she said.
Dr Shah says that 90% of cases of ovarian cancer are seen in women above the age of 80 years and almost 75% of cases are seen in women over 50 years. “Still there is no said age limit for it,” she adds.
Dr Kava says that there are several reasons for ovarian cancer to develop as one ages:
- Prolonged exposure to substances that can damage DNA.
- As we age, immunological capacity declines, reducing our ability to fight cancer as it develops.
- The processes that transform a healthy cell into a cancer cell may take time. For many human malignancies, the time required for transformation is estimated to be 20-30 years.
Myth #4: Birth control pills can cause ovarian cancer
Fact: Birth control pills do not cause ovarian cancer.
A common myth is that birth control pills cause ovarian cancer. However, a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer is 30 % to 50 % lower if they have ever used birth control pills than in those who have never used them, says Dr Kava. “In fact, birth control pills act as a protective shield against ovarian cancer,” says Dr Shah.
“Women with a high-risk BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation also have a lower chance of developing ovarian cancer when they use oral contraceptives. However, birth control pills slightly increase the risk of breast cancer. But it reduces the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer,” said Dr Kava.
Myth #5: Women who have has a hysterectomy can’t get ovarian cancer
Fact: The risk of getting ovarian cancer exists even after hysterectomy.
A hysterectomy is a medical procedure to remove the uterus along with one or both ovaries. “Although a hysterectomy can reduce a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer, the risk still exists even if both ovaries are removed,” said Dr Kava.
“It is important to watch for symptoms of ovarian cancer after hysterectomy and primary peritoneal carcinoma (cancer in the peritoneal tissue in the abdomen), which can mimic ovarian cancer. Bloating and flatulence are serious signs that should not be ignored,” she cautioned.
