Short Answer: Yes. Each type of cancer has what health researchers call risk factors. Risk factors are elements like diet, genetics, or exposure to certain substances, that make it likely to develop a particular cancer. Ovarian cancer has many risk factors, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) cites asbestos exposure as being one definitive contributory cause of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cancer And Asbestos Exposure

According to the American Cancer Society, every year, more than 22,500 women in the US are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The five-year survival rate is 47.6%, and females have a 1 in 75 chance of developing ovarian cancer.

Various Types of Ovarian Cancer

There are three types of ovarian cancer, but one in particular accounts for around 90% of cases.

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma develops in the thin lining covering the outside of an ovary (epithelial tissue).

The link between asbestos and ovarian cancer

Risk factors for ovarian include asbestos exposure

There are a variety of recognized risk factors for developing ovarian cancer. These include obesity, family history, some hormone therapies, and never having been pregnant.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) cites asbestos exposure as being one definitive contributory cause of ovarian cancer.

Historical lack of evidence is being corrected with new studies.

The relationship between ovarian cancer and asbestos exposure has been harder for medical researchers to define than some other asbestos injuries.

Research into the link between ovarian cancer and asbestos exposure has had challenges:

Too few cases: Statistically, women are at significantly less risk of occupation-related asbestos exposure. Because of this reduced risk, it is more difficult to arrive at a definitive causal link between asbestos and ovarian cancer

Misdiagnoses: The accuracy of cause-of-death information on death certificates regarding asbestos-related diseases has been a source of ongoing debate. The exact cause of death has often been misreported, limiting researchers’ ability to gather accurate data to analyze

While these limitations have slowed the pace of conclusive discoveries, recent findings have been able to provide more definitive answers.

How do asbestos fibers become embedded in the ovaries?

Microscopic asbestos fibers typically enter the body through inhalation or ingestion and lodge themselves into soft tissues. Over time, these fibers cause inflammation and increasing damage at a cellular level.

Health problems from asbestos exposure can take up to five decades for symptoms to appear.

In peritoneal (abdominal tissue covering) and pleural mesothelioma cases, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that asbestos fibers travel to the lungs or abdomen after being inhaled or ingested. However, how they reach the ovaries is still being researched.

There are several theories on the mechanics of how inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers reach the ovaries.

Some research points to them traveling via the bloodstream or lymphatic system. At the same time, other researchers hypothesize that talcum powder containing asbestos was once regularly applied to the genital area after bathing, and that the fibers may have made their way up to the ovaries via the reproductive tract. Asbestos-contaminated talc can also, of course, be inhaled.

Either way, a 2021 study that examined ovarian tissues detected the presence of talc crystals and asbestos. Several studies have, in fact, found a direct link between ovarian cancer and the perineal use of talc.

A retrospective case-control study conducted by Harvard researchers sought to find greater clarity regarding the carcinogenicity of using asbestos-containing genital talc. Researchers examined the association between talc use and ovarian cancer in 2,041 epithelial ovarian cancer cases. The study concluded that ‘the risks for epithelial ovarian cancer from genital talc use vary by histologic subtype, menopausal status at diagnosis, hormone therapy use, weight, and smoking.’ The conclusion also stated that the study observations suggested that estrogen and/prolactin use could play a role in the inflammatory response to talc.

“The overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.”

Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH) ²

Asbestos exposure in women

Given that the majority of industrial sector workers are men, asbestos exposure statistically affects them more than women.

The IARC has also found that excessive numbers of ovarian cancer deaths have been recorded among females who worked in factories during the height of asbestos use in the 20th century.

Women have been exposed to asbestos in a variety of ways, including:

Occupational exposure: Historically, women have developed asbestos-related diseases after working in factories and other industrial environments, and within older, damaged buildings

Secondary exposure: Family members who work around asbestos can bring its fibers home on their clothing or other work-related items, inadvertently exposing other household members to it. Historically, women who tended to do more of the laundry risked such exposure

Environmental exposure: Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, and mining sites can release its fibers into the air. In addition, women are just as likely as men to experience asbestos exposure during home renovations on older buildings when insufficient measures are taken to remove old asbestos materials safely

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is often asymptomatic in its early stages. However, as the cancer spreads into the peritoneum, fluid accumulates in the abdomen, and symptoms become more noticeable.

Symptoms suggesting that ovarian cancer is developing may include:

Abdominal pain
Digestive issues, including feeling full quickly and difficulty eating
Bloating
Nausea and vomiting
Pelvic pain
Back pain
Pain during intercourse
Abnormal menstruation
Overactive bladder or urgency to urinate

If you experience any of these symptoms persistently, and especially if you have any history of exposure to asbestos, you should consult with a gynecologist.

Final thoughts

Detecting ovarian cancer in the early stages can significantly improve the prognosis. Therefore, even in the absence of any symptoms, it is prudent to speak to your doctor or other healthcare professional about screening for asbestos illness. Early detection is everything.

If you may have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your healthcare provider about tests and screening to help detect the presence of asbestos fibers and asbestos-related damage.

AsbestosClaims.Law

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If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, check out our website and YouTube page for videos, infographics and answers to your questions about asbestos, including health and safety, asbestos testing, removing asbestos from your home and building, and legal information about compensation for asbestos injuries.

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1 Vimercati, L.; Cavone, D.; Delfino, M.C.; Bruni, B.; De Maria, L.; Caputi, A.; Sponselli, S.; Rossi, R.; Resta, L.; Fortarezza, F.; Pezzuto, F.; Serio, G.Primary Ovarian Mesothelioma: A Case Series with Electron Microscopy Examination and Review of the Literature. Cancers 2021, 13, 2278.
2 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.