The team has identified a network of circulating microRNAs — small, non-coding pieces of genetic material — that are associated with risk of ovarian cancer and can be detected from a blood sample. (fb)

The Mary Haas Foundation is proud to have teamed up with Tina's Wish to raise $130K at our most recent benefit for early detection of ovarian cancer. To date, early detection and prevention is the way to save lives. You have to be informed. You have to be your own advocate. We need to work together to ensure women's health finally gets the attention and progress it desperately deserves. That is why we have fallen in love with the work of Tina's Wish and was proud to put up a $50K matching challenge for this event in order to fund a junior researcher as part of Tina Wish's Rising Star Grant. With the stellar scientific advisory board, an outstanding board of directors and a terrific staff, they are educating people on how to protect themselves while pushing research forward. More info on the event and where the money's going: http://tinaswish.org/lcreception17recap/ WHAT IS OVARIAN CANCER? Ovarian cancer occurs when cells in the ovary grow and divide uncontrollably. The cells may form a tumor on the ovary, or they also can break off from the main tumor and spread to other parts of the body. Although ovarian cancer can spread throughout the entire body, in most cases it stays in the abdomen and affects organs such as the intestines, liver and stomach. There are several types of ovarian cancer. However, most cancers of the ovary come from the cells that make up the outer lining of the ovary. HOW COMMON IS OVARIAN CANCER? A woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about one in 67. The risk of getting this cancer and dying from it is one in 95. Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women, excluding skin cancer. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women. WHAT ARE SOME RISK FACTORS FOR OVARIAN CANCER The exact causes of ovarian cancer are not known. However, studies show that the following risk factors may increase the chance of developing this disease: Family History – first-degree relatives (mother, daughter, sister), especially if two or more have had the disease. A family history of breast or colon cancer also is associated with an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Age – most ovarian cancers occur in women 50 years of age or older, with the highest risk in women older than 60. Non-Childbearing – women who have never had children. In fact, the more children a woman has had, the less likely she is to develop ovarian cancer. Personal History – women who have had breast or colon cancer may be at greater risk. Obesity – women who are obese have a higher rate of death from ovarian cancer. Fertility Drugs – drugs that cause women to ovulate may slightly increase a woman’s risk. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – some evidence suggests that women who use HRT after menopause may have a slightly increased risk of developing this disease. Source: American Cancer Society MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OVARIAN CANCER CAN BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING: National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (800) 422-6237 | cancer.gov U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (800) 232-4636 (800-CDC-INFO) | cdc.gov (fb)