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26/10/2011
Pill Could Halve Ovarian Cancer Risk
Taking the contraceptive pill for 10 years can halve a woman’s chance of getting ovarian cancer, according to a new survey.
It was revealed that using oral contraception for any length of time was associated with a 15% reduction in cancer risk.
Meanwhile women who had used the pill for over a decade welcomed a 45% reduction.
The new research is not however as straight cut and 'positive' as it may originally appear. Researchers have said that the new findings need to be balanced with the increased risk of breast cancer.
In 100,000 women, taking the Pill for 10 years or more was expected to lead to 50 more breast cancers but 12 fewer ovarian cancers.
The findings emerged from the ongoing Epic (European Prospective Investigation of Cancer) study investigating dietary and lifestyle links to cancer in more than half a million European men and women.
Scientists are not sure why the Pill and pregnancy help to prevent ovarian cancer. One theory is both alter levels of hormones that affect disease risk.
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among UK women, with more than 6,500 cases diagnosed each year.
It has been called the "silent killer" because often the disease is not detected until an advanced and lethal stage.
(LB)
It was revealed that using oral contraception for any length of time was associated with a 15% reduction in cancer risk.
Meanwhile women who had used the pill for over a decade welcomed a 45% reduction.
The new research is not however as straight cut and 'positive' as it may originally appear. Researchers have said that the new findings need to be balanced with the increased risk of breast cancer.
In 100,000 women, taking the Pill for 10 years or more was expected to lead to 50 more breast cancers but 12 fewer ovarian cancers.
The findings emerged from the ongoing Epic (European Prospective Investigation of Cancer) study investigating dietary and lifestyle links to cancer in more than half a million European men and women.
Scientists are not sure why the Pill and pregnancy help to prevent ovarian cancer. One theory is both alter levels of hormones that affect disease risk.
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among UK women, with more than 6,500 cases diagnosed each year.
It has been called the "silent killer" because often the disease is not detected until an advanced and lethal stage.
(LB)
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