M Family Foundation Ovarian Cancer: Causes, Risks, and Prevention

Part 1 of a 3-Part Series on learning the risk factors to help lower your risk.

Inherited genetic mutations: Genetic tests can detect mutations associated with these inherited syndromes. If you have a family history of breast, ovarian, thyroid, colorectal, or endometrial (uterine) cancers, you might want to ask your doctor about genetic counseling and testing. The American Cancer Society recommends discussing genetic testing with a qualified cancer genetics professional before any genetic testing is done.  

These tests include mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes,  PTEN (PTEN tumor hamartoma syndrome), STK11 (Peutz-Jeghers syndrome), MUTYH (MUTYH-associated polyposis), and the many genes that can cause hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (MLH1, MLH3, MSH2, MSH6, TGFBR2, PMS1, and PMS2).

For additional information on Ovarian Cancer, check out our website at MFamilyFoundation.org