Cancer is a global health concern, and when it comes to ovarian cancer, most women are diagnosed with the most advanced form of it. While many factors can make ovarian cancer worse, researchers have revealed the impact of obesity. We spoke to a leading expert in the field to learn about how obesity can make ovarian cancer worse.
Why Obesity is Concerning?
According to Dr Ashay Karpe, Founder and Director – Sunrise Oncology Centre, obesity happens when someone has an unhealthy amount or distribution of body fat. In 2016, about 1.9 billion adults aged 18 and above were overweight, with over 650 million among them classified as obese, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, researchers from the University of Notre Dame, in partnership with NeoGenomics Laboratories, have provided fresh insights into a critical element that contributes to the heightened fatality of ovarian cancer: obesity.
In 2020 alone, over 200,000 reported deaths occurred worldwide due to this gynaecological cancer, which ranks as the third most frequent type, according to Gynaecological Cancer and Surgery: Current Practice, Novel Technologies and Future Developments.
Also Read: How Alert Are You About Ovarian Cancer?
How Does Obesity Make Ovarian Cancer Worse?
One of the most surprising findings is the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and ovarian cancer risk. Dr Karpe said that individuals with a higher BMI at the time of cancer diagnosis, or those who have successfully battled cancer once, face a significantly higher likelihood of developing a second, unrelated cancer. This risk amplifies by a considerable factor of 1.1 for every 5-unit rise in BMI from the baseline.
Fat in our bodies can make extra hormones, like oestrogen. This hormone is linked to higher chances of getting breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. “If someone is obese, their body can also have too much insulin and something called Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1). These things can help other types of cancer grow, like colon, kidney, prostate, and endometrial cancers,” said Dr Karpe.
“Our body fat cells also make hormones called adipokines. These hormones can help or stop cell growth. When someone is obese, they might have too much of one hormone called Leptin and too little of another hormone called adiponectin,” said Dr Karpe. He added that this can make a good environment for cancer cells to grow.
Also Read: Obesity Is More Than Just An Aesthetic Problem, Here’s How It Affects You
Obesity can also weaken our body’s defence against tumours and change how the tissue around developing tumours behaves. This makes it easier for cancer to spread.
Another thing about obesity is that it can cause inflammation, which is like our body’s response to harm. Inflammation is linked to cancer, and obesity can make this inflammation happen more.
Dr Karpe said that if people eat well and keep a healthy weight, they can lower the chances of inflammation. This can help protect against cancer.
Conclusion
So, in simple words, obesity and ovarian cancer have a connection. Obesity can make the risk of getting ovarian cancer higher because it messes up hormones, makes our body’s defence against cancer weak, and causes inflammation. To stay safe, it’s important to eat healthy and keep a normal weight. This can help avoid various health problems and keep ovarian cancer at bay.
[Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Consult your healthcare provider to get a thorough diagnosis and treatment as per your health needs.]
Image Credits: freepik
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