In this episode of her in-depth epithelial ovarian cancer series, Dr. Barbara 'Menopause' Taylor tackles a question many women get wrong: Which family members actually affect your risk?

She breaks down the crucial difference between family history and hereditary genetic mutations—and explains why they are not the same thing. You’ll learn which relatives truly matter (hint: it’s both maternal and paternal sides), why first-degree relatives carry the greatest weight, and how even one close family member with ovarian cancer raises your risk by about 5% above the already low average risk of 1.4%.

Dr. Taylor cuts through the confusion, clarifies common mix-ups with breast cancer risk, and shows you why the details—yes, even the nitty gritty—matter when assessing your personal risk.

If you’ve ever wondered how your family tree shapes your health future, this episode connects the dots with precision and clarity.

Visual learner? Find the corresponding Menopause Taylor YouTube video here.

Click here for more about one-on-one consultations and Dr. Taylor's menopause resources.

Looking for a roadmap to successful menopause management? Dr. Taylor's new ebook, How to Win at Menopause: A Guide to Raising - and Winning- Your Game Your Way, will bring confidence and clarity to your menopause journey. Avoid common pitfalls and learn to navigate a healthcare system that focuses more on disease than prevention, where many professionals lack the relevant education and/or the motivation to help you.

In this episode, Dr. Barbara 'Menopause' Taylor continues her in-depth series on epithelial ovarian cancer by focusing on one powerful risk factor: your personal medical history.

She explains why a prior diagnosis of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or even endometriosis can increase your future risk, and how shared genetic mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2 connect breast and ovarian cancers. Dr. Taylor also touches on the concept that “once a cancer patient, always a cancer patient,” highlighting how a history of cancer can signal an ongoing vulnerability.

This episode helps you understand how your past medical story shapes your future risk—and why knowing your history is one of the most empowering steps you can take.

Visual learner? Find the corresponding Menopause Taylor YouTube video here.

Click here for more about one-on-one consultations and Dr. Taylor's menopause resources.

Looking for a roadmap to successful menopause management? Dr. Taylor's new ebook, How to Win at Menopause: A Guide to Raising - and Winning- Your Game Your Way, will bring confidence and clarity to your menopause journey. Avoid common pitfalls and learn to navigate a healthcare system that focuses more on disease than prevention, where many professionals lack the relevant education and/or the motivation to help you.

Genetic Mutations for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer — Beyond BRCA

In the ovarian cancer series, we’ve just separated hereditary from non-hereditary cancers. Now we dive into the specific genetic mutations that drive hereditary epithelial ovarian cancer.

Most women only know about BRCA—but that’s just part of the story. In this episode, Dr. Barbara 'Menopause' Taylor organizes hereditary epithelial ovarian cancers into three site-specific syndromes: ovaries and breasts (HBOC), ovaries only (HSSOC), and ovaries with colon (Lynch Syndrome). You’ll learn that BRCA mutations account for 65–85% of hereditary epithelial ovarian cancers, that hereditary cancers often strike before age 50, and that while hereditary cancers make up only 5–10% of all ovarian cancers, their risks can be dramatically higher—up to 40–66% for breast cancer and 11–54% for ovarian cancer in BRCA carriers.

Clear, structured, and eye-opening, this episode reveals why knowing your specific mutation matters—and why comparing one woman’s cancer to another’s is a mistake.

Visual learner? Find the corresponding Menopause Taylor YouTube video here.

Click here for more about one-on-one consultations and Dr. Taylor's menopause resources.

Looking for a roadmap to successful menopause management? Dr. Taylor's new ebook, How to Win at Menopause: A Guide to Raising - and Winning- Your Game Your Way, will bring confidence and clarity to your menopause journey. Avoid common pitfalls and learn to navigate a healthcare system that focuses more on disease than prevention, where many professionals lack the relevant education and/or the motivation to help you.