Am I at risk?

[djmc1975]

My mom was diagnosed with papillary adenocarcinoma in Jan 09 at the young age of 61.  Her gyn/oc says we're looking at stage 3C.  There is no cancer in the family.  I was recently diagnosed with Grave's disease as the cause for my hyperthyroidism.  I have HPV and my gyn found abnormal (precancerous) cells on a pap smear done a few years ago.  That was treated by cryosurgery.  Because of how late most ovarian cancers are discovered, should I be asking for some tests to be done on myself?  Are any of these things related in any way?  Thanks, in advance for any help.  

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
thank you for the good information.
Most ovarian cancer is "sporadic" which means it occurs in women without any family history.  There is a subset of ovarian cancer that occurs in women with strong family histories of breast and ovarian cancer. Of these cancers, 2 gene mutations have been identified as associated with a high risk of both ovarian and breast cancer.
these are BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. these gene mutations are detected through a blood test. Most cancer centers have a genetic counselor who can given advice about risks of cancer based on family tree information and also counsel you about the pros and cons of undergoing genetic testing.
It makes most sense to start with your mother.  If she tests positive for s gene mutation, then it makes sense for other family members to get checked. For women with a BRCA mutation, they need consider  prophylactic removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes

As far as pap smears: HPV is human papillomavirus and is associated with abnormal changes on a pap smear. This is not related to ovarian cancer.

Corfielsman points out that sometimes abnormal cells from an ovarian cancer can float down the fallopian tube into the uterus and be picked up on a pap smear. Under the microscope, this will look very different than HPV changes.

best wishes to you.  I hope all works out for your mother.

[djmc1975]

Thank you for your response.  I do get a pap every year and I happen to have my annual appointment next week with my gyno and I was going to see if they would take a CA-125 test.  It's scarey that something could be going on in your body and you don't know about it.  I hope your wife is doing well.  Thanks again.  

[corfielsman]

Not an M.D., but my wife is, and she's also an ovarian cancer patient diagnosed with stage 3c papillary serous adenocarcinoma in September 07, at age 46.  The cancer was found -- and this is a rare occurrence -- off a PAP smear, and surgery revealed it had spread throughout the lower abdomen without bulking up.  My wife's two preceding PAP smears, in '03 and '05, had shown precancerous cell changes.  So your mother's and our experience, unfortunately, would suggest that yes, you are very possibly at risk.  You probably should have very thorough PAP smears done once a year, and, I don't know if the docs would agree or not, but I would think also a baseline CA-125 reading, just in case.