Obesity And Ovarian Cancer: Doubly Dangerous

A recent study has revealed that obesity reduces the chances of survival from ovarian cancer. According to the study, obese women with ovarian cancer fare worse than those who are not obese. Furthermore obese women with advanced disease may also have a shorter time period to cancer recurrence.

Dr. Andrew Li, a gynecologic oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in Los Angeles led the research that compared the data from 216 women with ovarian cancer. 181 of the women were considered ideal-weight while the rest were considered obese.

The study revealed that obese women were more likely to have the disease localized but also experienced increased mortality. Dr. Andrew Li said, “If women develop ovarian cancer and they are obese, they have a lower chance of survival than those who are overweight or normal weight".

The study is the foremost to identify weight as an independent factor in the progression of ovarian cancer and survival. It also provides a clue as to how obesity boosts the risk of death from ovarian cancer. Dr. Andrew Li explained, “I think fat cells secrete some kind of hormonal factor that actually makes cancer cells behave more aggressively and be less resistant to cell death by traditional chemotherapy drugs.”

The results have been taken with a pinch of salt. Dr Li cautioned, "These findings should certainly be validated in other trials." The study however gives one more reason to maintain a healthy body weight.

Obesity is also known to cause cancers of the kidney, breast and colon. Dr. Yoshiki Iwamoto, an assistant professor of surgical research at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Calif states, “Not only ovarian cancer but other cancers have been shown to be associated with obesity".

This is just one more health problem in which obesity plays a role. Reducing obesity and maintaining an ideal body weight is important for many other reasons.