risk of ovarian cancer with respect to family history

Last reviewed 06/2022

  • with respect to adults aged 15+ years in England and Wales in 1992 - the total new cases was 5,384 and the number per annum per 2000 population was 0.21 (1)

  • risk with respect to family members affected by ovarian cancer (2):
    • woman with a mother with ovarian cancer - relative risk = 6
    • woman with a sister with ovarian cancer - relative risk = 3.8
    • woman with a daughter with ovarian cancer - relative risk = 1.1
    • if a woman has two close relatives with ovarian cancer then her risk of developing ovarian cancer is approximately 40%

  • the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are associated with ovarian, breast and other cancers
    • women with BRCA1 have a 50% lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer (3)
    • women with BRCA2 have a 30% lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer (3)

Reference:

  • (1) Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer (April 2000). NHS Executive.
  • (2) Stratton J (1998). Br J Obs Gynae, 105, 493.
  • (3) GP (22/6/01), 42.