Many people with ovarian cancer also have other health conditions. Some of these may have existed before the cancer diagnosis, but others may develop later as a result of the cancer or the treatment. The type of treatment you receive for ovarian cancer may depend on these other conditions.

Comorbidities and Complications

When someone has more than one health condition at the same time, the conditions are known as comorbidities. When someone has a medical problem resulting from a disease that makes treatment more difficult, it is known as a complicating factor or illness. In people with ovarian cancer, having a comorbidity can complicate cancer treatment and make a person more sick.

Age can play a role in whether a person has comorbid conditions. The longer someone lives, the more likely they are to have a chronic illness. An older person who receives a diagnosis of ovarian cancer is more likely to already have other health conditions, compared with someone who is younger. Among people with epithelial ovarian cancer, the most common type of ovarian cancer, one study found that 34 percent of participants under the age of 70 had comorbidities, while 63 percent over the age of 70 had them.

People who have a higher stage of ovarian cancer are also more likely to have comorbidities. These comorbidities also tend to be more severe.

1. Endometriosis

Some people with ovarian cancer also have a disorder called endometriosis. This condition occurs when tissue that is normally found inside the uterus starts growing outside the uterus. Endometriosis often leads to pain and heavy or irregular periods. Endometriosis can cause cysts to grow on the ovaries, or it can lead to scar tissue that causes organs to stick together.

People who have endometriosis have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. However, this risk is fairly small — fewer than 2 percent of females with endometriosis will develop ovarian cancer, compared to about 1.3 percent of females without endometriosis, according to Ovarian Cancer Action.

It’s not completely clear yet why a link between these two conditions exists. It’s possible that endometriosis tissue, which acts abnormally to begin with, can transform into cancer — although there is no direct evidence for this theory at this time. It’s also possible that other factors, such as genetics or certain lifestyle habits, can make women more likely to develop both ovarian cancer and endometriosis.

Endometriosis is usually linked to two specific types of ovarian cancer, endometrioid and clear cell. These cancer types are usually found at an early stage. Endometriosis doesn’t seem to lead to worse outcomes or a higher chance of death for people with ovarian cancer.

Additionally, some of the treatments for endometriosis and ovarian cancer overlap. Hormone therapy is sometimes used to slow the growth of endometriosis, and surgeries such as oophorectomies and hysterectomies are sometimes used to treat endometriosis symptoms. If you receive these treatments as part of your ovarian cancer treatment, they may also help with your endometriosis. Talk to your doctor to find out how both of these conditions can be managed at the same time.

2. Hypertension

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a condition where blood pushes against the walls of the blood vessels with high force. Hypertension is very common, but it can be serious if untreated. It increases a person’s chance of other health conditions, such as heart attack, heart disease, and stroke. High blood pressure doesn’t usually cause any symptoms, so the only way to know for sure if you have it is to have your blood pressure measured by a health care professional.

In a study of more than 10,000 women published in Gyenologic Ocology, researchers found that hypertension is more common in women with ovarian cancer (52 percent) compared to those without (44 percent). Blood clots, which are also linked to hypertension, were also more common in people with ovarian cancer.

Research shows that hypertension doesn’t increase a person’s risk of death from ovarian cancer. It also doesn’t make ovarian cancer worse. In fact, individuals with both hypertension and endometrioid type ovarian cancer have a lower chance of having their cancer come back or grow into advanced ovarian cancer.

The reason for this may be hypertension treatment. An analysis of 15 studies, published in Cancer Causes & Control, showed that women with ovarian cancer who used certain types of high blood pressure medication, such as beta-blockers, faced a higher risk of mortality. But when they used other types, such as diuretics, they lived longer. People who have hypertension and ovarian cancer should talk to their care team to find out how best to treat their high blood pressure.

3. Heart Disease

The term “heart disease” (or cardiovascular disease) refers to several different conditions, including heart defects, blood vessel diseases, and problems with heart rhythms. Heart disease can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

It is unclear how heart disease affects ovarian cancer outcomes. Some studies have found that people with ovarian cancer are more likely to also have heart failure. Other research has shown that heart disease doesn’t lead to an increased chance of mortality for people with ovarian cancer. People who are at high risk for heart disease may talk to their doctor about managing their condition through diet and exercise, rather than medications that could put them at risk.

4. Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which a person’s body can’t make or use insulin correctly. Insulin is an important hormone that helps cells use glucose (sugar) as fuel. Diabetes leads to high blood sugar levels.

When it comes to ovarian cancer, people with diabetes tend to have a worse disease outlook than those without diabetes. One study of more than 600 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer found that those who were also diabetic were more likely to be older, overweight, and have additional health problems. Study participants with diabetes also had a higher risk of dying from cancer. Researchers think this might be because high levels of sugar in the blood can feed tumor cells and make them grow more.

It is not yet clear how treatments for diabetes may impact ovarian cancer. While one study found that different types of diabetes medications led to a greater risk of death for people with ovarian cancer, another study saw that diabetics who used the drug metformin lived longer.

Researchers are continuing to study this issue, but in the meantime, talk to your cancer care and diabetes team about which diabetes treatments might be the best fit for you.

5. Breast Cancer

Some people with ovarian cancer also have a high risk of developing breast cancer. This is because both conditions can be caused by the same genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that help cells heal damage and block cells from turning cancerous. When these genes develop mutations (variations), they don’t work properly and can increase a person’s risk for multiple types of cancer, including both breast and ovarian cancer.

Women with mutations in BRCA1 have a 40 percent to 60 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer, according to MedlinePlus, while those with BRCA2 mutations have a 20 percent to 35 percent chance of getting this disease. People with mutations in either BRCA gene have a 45 percent to 85 percent chance of developing breast cancer within their lifetime, according to Johns Hopkins. This means that if your ovarian cancer is caused by a BRCA mutation, you are more at risk for being diagnosed with breast cancer, too.

On the other hand, if you don’t have any BRCA mutations, you may not have an elevated risk. BRCA mutations can also raise the risk of developing other types of cancers, including pancreatic cancer and melanoma.

6. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a condition that leads to weak bones, is sometimes a complication of both ovarian and breast cancer. Cancer cells may directly affect the bones, or bones may weaken as a side effect of gynecologic cancer treatments. Many cancer therapies lower the body’s levels of estrogen, and estrogen is important for keeping bones strong.

People with both osteoporosis and ovarian cancer don’t have worse outcomes, so this condition won’t put you at a higher risk for death or advanced cancer. Breaking bones is often a concern in osteoporosis, but people with ovarian cancer don’t seem to have an increased chance for fractures.

People who are worried about developing osteoporosis may be able to get bone scans to check for bone loss, or take vitamin D or calcium supplements to keep bones strong. Make sure to always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.

7. Depression and Anxiety

People who live with cancer often experience mood disorders, like depression or anxiety. Research published in BMJ Open shows that women with ovarian cancer usually have higher levels of depression and anxiety than women without cancer. Before going through cancer treatment, about 1 out of 4 people with ovarian cancer have depression and about 1 out of 5 have anxiety. After going through treatment, levels of depression tend to go down, and levels of anxiety often go up. Individuals who are younger and who are single are more likely to have these mental health issues.

There are many reasons why a person may go through mental health changes after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Things like letting go of future plans, experiencing body changes, having money problems, and dealing with end-of-life planning can all contribute to depression.

Additionally, some ovarian cancer treatments — such as hysterectomy — are also linked to higher levels of depression and anxiety. This may be due to changes in hormone levels or to dealing with sudden infertility. While everyone feels sad or upset after a cancer diagnosis, depression goes beyond normal feelings of sadness.

Symptoms of depression include:

• Losing interest in things you used to like
• Changing eating or sleeping habits
• Feeling slow or tired every day
• Having difficulty focusing
• Feeling guilty or worthless
• Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless for most of the day
• Thinking about death or suicide

People may have anxiety if they feel very worried or scared most of the time. For people with cancer, these feelings can be linked to fear — of pain, going to the doctor, the effect of cancer on loved ones, or dying. Symptoms linked to anxiety include worrying all the time, having difficulty concentrating, feeling tense or restless, or acting irritable or angry.

Treatment exists to help people improve their mental health while dealing with cancer. One study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that over half of women who had ovarian cancer and anxiety or depression did not seek help.

Mental health treatment includes:

• Medication, such as antidepressants
• Individual talk therapy or counseling
• Support groups or group counseling
• Regular exercise
• Following a steady routine

Research has found that having depression doesn’t lead to a higher risk of death for people with ovarian cancer. It also isn’t thought to make ovarian cancer more likely to progress to advanced stages or to come back after being treated.

The Impact of Comorbidities

Some comorbidities can lead to a worse outcome for people with ovarian cancer, but not all of them do. If you have other health conditions, it is important to work with your oncologist to make sure these other issues are also being treated. Managing comorbidities can help you have a better chance at a good outcome and may lead to a better quality of life.

Talk With People Who Understand

On MyOvarianCancerTeam, the social network for people with ovarian cancer and their loved ones, more than 6,700 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their experiences with others who understand life with ovarian cancer.

Are you diagnosed with a condition in addition to ovarian cancer? How do you manage both? Share your story in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.