This document provides information from Myriad Genetics' September daily awareness calendar for ovarian cancer. Key facts include: 1) 1 in 72 women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime; 2) BRCA mutations account for 1 in 7 ovarian cancer cases; 3) the drug Lynparza is the first FDA-approved PARP inhibitor for ovarian cancer patients with BRCA mutations who have received 3 or more lines of chemotherapy. It encourages learning about hereditary risk factors and genetic testing options to empower women in the fight against ovarian and other gynecological cancers.
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SEPTEMBER 3
Lynparza (olaparib) is the first and only FDA-approved PARP inhibitor for use in
patients with ovarian cancer who have a BRCA mutation and have been treated
with three or more prior lines of chemotherapy.3
Hear about one patient’s journey
with BRCA-associated ovarian cancer: Katya
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SEPTEMBER 5
Almost half (44%) of women with BRCA mutation-associated ovarian cancer have
NO family history of breast or ovarian cancer.2
44%
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SEPTEMBER 6
Up to 5% of endometrial cancers are due to a hereditary (inherited) cause. The
most common hereditary cause of endometrial cancer is Lynch syndrome, which
also increases the risk of developing colorectal and ovarian cancer.5
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SEPTEMBER 7
There are other genes that increase the risk of ovarian cancer beyond BRCA1 and
BRCA2, such as BRIP1, MSH6, and RAD51D. Learn more about these and other
hereditary ovarian cancer genes here.
OVARIAN
BRCA1
BRIPI
MSH2
MSH6
PMS2RAD51D
RAD51C
EPCAM
TP53 BRCA2
MLH1
STK11
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SEPTEMBER 8
0 20 40 60 80 100
Women with a BRCA mutation have up to a 44% risk of developing ovarian
cancer by age 70 (compared to the average woman’s risk of 1.4%.)6
Breast cancer by age 50
Breast cancer by age 70
Ovarian cancer by age 70
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SEPTEMBER 9
Symptoms of endometrial cancer can include vaginal bleeding, spotting, or
discharge that is not normal for you. Any vaginal bleeding occurring after
menopause should be further evaluated to rule out endometrial cancer.7
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SEPTEMBER 10
People who have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with a BRCA
mutation have a 50% chance to inherit the same mutation.5
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SEPTEMBER 11
There is no proven early detection test for ovarian cancer. Women at increased
risk of developing this cancer, such as those with an inherited gene mutation, may
be recommended by their doctor to undergoing screening for certain markers in
the blood (such as CA-125) or by ultrasound.8
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SEPTEMBER 12
The average woman’s risk of developing endometrial cancer is 2.7%. That risk
increases to up to 71% in women with a hereditary endometrial cancer syndrome
like Lynch syndrome.9
2.7%
71%
with hereditary
endometrial cancer
syndrome
the average
woman’s risk
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SEPTEMBER 13
While ovarian cancer is often called the
“silent killer”, there are some symptoms
to watch out for. These can include
bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain,
difficulty eating or feeling full quickly,
urinary symptoms such as urgency or
frequency, fatigue, indigestion, back
pain, pain with intercourse, constipation,
and menstrual changes. If these
symptoms persist for more than two
weeks, see your physician.4
FATIGUE
UPSET STOMACH
BACK PAIN
CONSTIPATION
MENSTRUAL
CHANGES
ABDOMINAL
SWELLING WITH
WEIGHT LOSS
RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS
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SEPTEMBER 14
There are preventive measures available for women at increased risk of ovarian
cancer. Oral contraceptives reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by up to 50%, and
surgical removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes reduces risk by up to 96%.
Tubal removal alone and breastfeeding may also reduce the risk of developing
ovarian cancer.4
50%
oral contraceptives
reduce the risk by up to
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SEPTEMBER 15
Risk factors for ovarian cancer include: a family history of breast/ovarian cancer, a
mutation in a hereditary cancer gene, a personal history of breast cancer, a
personal history of colon cancer, having no children, possibly infertility, beginning
menstruation at an early age (before age 12), a later age of menopause (after age
55), and increasing age.4
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SEPTEMBER 16
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the Society of
Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) recommend that ALL women with ovarian cancer
receive genetic testing, regardless of family history.10
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SEPTEMBER 17
There are 3 major types of ovarian cancer: epithelial, germ cell, and sex-cord
stromal cell. Epithelial ovarian cancer represents around 90% of ovarian cancers.4
EPITHELIAL
Represents around 90% of
ovarian cancers; common
among women over the age
of 60 but can develop at
any age.
GERM CELL
Represents 5% of ovarian cancers;
usually only impacts 1 ovary in
adolescent and young women.
SEX-CORD
STROMAL CELL
Represents less than 5% of
patients; tumors occur with equal
frequency among pre- and
post-menopausal women.
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SEPTEMBER 18
Hereditary cancer genetic testing is broadly covered by the vast majority of
health insurance plans. In fact, most patients with ovarian cancer pay $0 out of
pocket for genetic testing.11
$0 pay for genetic testing
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SEPTEMBER 20
Risk factors for endometrial cancer include: a family history of endometrial
cancer, a mutation in a hereditary cancer gene, increased age, beginning
menstruation at an early age (before age 12), a late age of menopause (after age
55), exposure to estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy, obesity, polycystic
ovary syndrome (PCOS), and exposure to tamoxifen.9
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SEPTEMBER 21
Early detection of ovarian cancer is key, and more research is needed to develop
effective screening tools. When caught in its early stages, 92% of women with
ovarian cancer will survive five years, compared to only 28% of those who are
diagnosed after the cancer has spread to other organs. Unfortunately, only 15% of
ovarian cancer is currently diagnosed at an early stage.4
92%
of women with ovarian cancer will survive 5 years
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SEPTEMBER 22
Patients with BRCA mutation-associated ovarian cancer may respond better to
platinum-based chemotherapy, as well as other classes of drugs; for example,
PARP inhibitors.2
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SEPTEMBER 23
A family history of ovarian cancer is important for men to know about as well.
Not only could a hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome impact their female
relatives, men with a BRCA mutation are also at increased for cancers of the
prostate, pancreas, breast, and melanoma.
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SEPTEMBER 24
Only 25% of patients newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer know their BRCA
status12
, even though the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has
recommended BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing for all patients with epithelial ovarian
cancer since 2008. If you’ve had ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor about
whether genetic testing is right for you.
Only 25% of patients newly diagnosed with
ovarian cancer know their BRCA status
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SEPTEMBER 25
Women with Lynch syndrome have a high risk of developing a second cancer
such as colon cancer or ovarian cancer. Up to 30% will develop a second cancer
within 10 years of their first cancer diagnosis, and up to 50% will within 15 years.13,14
30% will develop a second
cancer within 10 years
50% will develop a second
cancer within 15 years
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SEPTEMBER 26
Ovarian cancer is a deadly disease. This year, there will be more than 21,000 new
cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed and about 14,000 deaths from ovarian cancer.1
More than 21,000
new cases of ovarian
cancer diagnosed
About 14,000 deaths
each year from
ovarian cancer
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SEPTEMBER 27
BRCA mutations are not only found in younger patients; 66% of women with
BRCA mutation-associated ovarian cancer are diagnosed after the age of 50.15
66%
of BRCA-positive
women are diagnosed
after age 50
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SEPTEMBER 28
1 in 4 patients with endometrial cancer are at risk for hereditary cancer and should
undergo genetic testing. Approximately 24% of patients with endometrial cancer
are diagnosed before the age of 50, which is one of the clinical testing criteria
recognized by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).9,16
at risk for hereditary cancer
24% with
endometrial cancer
are diagnosed before
the age of 50
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SEPTEMBER 29
Are you at risk for hereditary gynecologic cancer? Take the hereditary cancer
quiz here to find out. Red flags for hereditary cancer include rare cancers (such as
ovarian cancer), cancer that occurs at an earlier age than in the general
population (such as breast or colon cancer in a 30-year-old), more than one type
of cancer occurring in one person (such as a woman experiencing both breast
and ovarian cancers or cancer in both breasts), and multiple people on the same
side of the family with similar or related types of cancer (for example, several
relatives with breast cancer).
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SEPTEMBER 30
Knowledge is power - talk to your doctor about your personal or family history of
ovarian cancer. Find a health care professional here.
View full interactive calendar here.