Understanding Ovarian Cancer: A Personal Story & Key Facts

Question
My mother was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 1999, she was only 48yrs old.  If I remember correctly it was epithelial something or other.  It was caught purely by accident.  She had a hysterectomy and was told all her organs appeared "pink and healthy" however when I brought her to have her staples removed we were hit with the news.  She went thru a year of treatment and then was in the clear for almost 2 years.  She was getting checked every 3 months even though her dr. told her she could be on an every 6 month schedule.  He also told her she had a better chance of getting hit by a bus than getting cancer again.  Well, low and behold it came back and she was treated for almost 2 years with many many different drugs.  She lost her battle on 10-31-04 at only 52 yrs old.  I am one of 3 girls and would like to know everything and anything I can do to preventatively and as far as check up's, exams and testing. I am aware of the CA125 which I am told is not very accurate unless you already have cancer and are being treated for it.  Are ultrasounds helpful?  I have one child 27 months old, and am pregnant with my 2nd, I have not been on birth control in almost 6 yrs.   I am 29 years old.  My sisters are on birth control also, neither one has children and one is 31 yrs old , the other 26yrs old.  How soon should we be getting checked?  And should I be back on birth control after my child is born?  and for how long should I be on birth control?  Is it a smart idea to consider having a hysterectomy myself after I am finished having children?  

Answer
Danielle,

Your lifetime risk for developing ovarian cancer is about 3-5%. If there were other family members with ovarian cancer, such as aunts or cousins, the risk may be about 7%. If there were a proven familial genetic predisposition for breast or ovarian cancer, then the risk could be as high as 50%.

Whatever the risk, there is no good way to prevent the cancer. The best strategy would be to have the ovaries removed when they are no longer needed for reproduction. At present there is no screening test for ovarian cancer and no known way to detect it early or before an abnormal condition turns into a cancer.