Joy,

Unfortunately I don't have the hard data you're looking for, but
ovarian cancer is an issue that I'm familiar with on a personal
level.  5 years ago, my 59 year old mother who had been very healthy
all her life was admitted  to the hospital for an emergency
appendectomy.  During the operation it was discovered that one of her
ovaries was enlarged.  It was removed and tests determined that it was
pre-cancerous.  On the advice of her doctors, she had a total
hysterectomy two months later.  She had very thorough follow up the
next few years and there seemed to be no further problems.  During
this time I had several conversations with my OB regarding my risk of
getting ovarian cancer.  I was prepared to have my ovaries removed.
My OB was of the opinion, however, that ovaries are rather nice to
have and that a better course to follow would be to have annual blood
tests to screen for ovarian cancer as well as annual ultrasounds to
check the ovaries.  He also informed me that there are certain types
of ovarian cancer one can get even though the ovaries have already
been removed.  That certainly surprised me.

Well, last year at age 63, my mother became ill again.  She had a
cough and sore throat that wouldn't go away and felt short of breath.
Xrays showed that her lungs were full of fluid and cancer cells were
present.  Her symptoms were treated, lots of tests and examinations
 were done, doctors at City of Hope were consulted.  It was a strange
case because the cancer cells were in her lungs, but all tests indicated that
the cells were intestinal or colon cancer cells, yet her intestines
and colon were fine.  She died this past January, just 8 months after
the cancer diagnosis was made.

How is this story helpful to anyone?  Well, it reminds us that when
we discuss risk, we're really talking about chance as it affects a
large population.   It doesn't carry any guarantees when it comes to
individual people.  My mother was a non-smoker, followed a healthful
diet and lifestyle, had no known family history of cancer, was breastfed
 as an infant, and breastfed her own four children.  Statistically
speaking, she should not have died of cancer.

What can you tell your friend, Joy?  Surely this story wasn't the one
she wanted to hear.  But do tell her she's not alone.  I'll be 38
next week and I have a husband and two little girls ages 2 and 5.  I
do my best to enjoy each day with my family and to pass my love and
committment to breastfeeding and mothering to other mothers through
my work as an LLLL.

Sincerely,
Dorothy Rae Collier