由 home-healthhaven 
Around 20,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. Although it is only the eighth most common cancer among American women, it has the highest mortality rate of any cancer affecting the reproductive system, resulting in over 14,000 deaths annually.
Traditionally, doctors have looked at factors like age, weight, reproductive history, diet, and family history when assessing the risk of ovarian cancer. However, a recent study suggests that working night shifts could be another significant risk factor.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have found that women who work night shifts have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. This builds on previous research that linked night shift work to a higher risk of breast cancer. The new study’s findings were published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
**Increased Risk**
The study involved more than 1,100 women with advanced ovarian cancer and about 390 women with early-stage ovarian cancer, comparing them with a control group of over 1,800 women without cancer. Participants, aged 35 to 74, were asked if they had ever worked night shifts.
Results showed that roughly one in four women with advanced ovarian cancer had worked nights, compared to one in three women with early-stage cancer, and only one in five women without cancer. On average, these women had worked nights for about 2.7 to 3.5 years across various sectors, including food service, health care, and office administration.
From this data, researchers concluded that working night shifts increased the likelihood of developing advanced ovarian cancer by 24% and early-stage cancer by 49%, particularly for women over 50.
**Morning Person or Night Owl**
The study also found that a woman’s sleep preferences influenced her risk. Women who preferred early mornings but worked night shifts were at a slightly higher risk compared to those who naturally stayed up late.
Researchers suggested that early risers forced to work nights experience more stress due to the mismatch with their natural sleep patterns. This slight increase in risk underscores the importance of maintaining a work schedule that aligns with one’s lifestyle.