Your risk of one type of cancer skyrockets if you work in one of these 7 jobs

10 December 2023 , 08:25

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Hairdressers have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, according to a study (Stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

More than 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the UK - and early diagnosis is key as it means the cancer is more treatable.

Earlier this year, a study found that women working in sales, retail, clothing and construction industries may also have a heightened risk of developing this cancer. Research published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine said that exposure to agents, including talcum powder, ammonia, propellant gases, petrol and bleaches may also put women at risk of developing the condition.

Researchers led by academics at the University of Montreal in Canada examined data on 491 Canadian women with ovarian cancer and compared it with 987 women without the disease. They found that women who worked as hairdressers, barbers or beauticians appeared to have a three-fold higher risk.

Beauticians are also more at risk of developing ovarian cancer (Stock photo) (Getty Images)

Those who worked in accountancy for a decade were twice as likely to develop the disease while construction workers were almost three times as likely, the study authors said. Meanwhile, shop assistants and sales people had a 45 per cent increased risk and those who make or alter clothes appeared to have an 85 per cent increased risk.

According to the study, the jobs linked to a significantly higher risk of ovarian cancer are:

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• Hairdresser
• Barber
• Beautician
• Construction worker
• Accountant
• Clothes maker or embroiderer
• Sales or retail worker

The authors wrote: "We observed associations suggesting that accountancy, hairdressing, sales, sewing and related occupations may be linked to excess risks. Further population-based research is needed to evaluate possible hazards for female workers and occupations commonly held by women."

The main symptoms of ovarian cancer include having a swollen tummy or feeling bloated, pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between the hips, no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating and urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea, back pain, feeling tired all the time, losing weight without trying and bleeding from the vagina after the menopause.

You should see your doctor if you notice a change that is not normal for you or if you have any of the possible signs and symptoms of cancer, explains Cancer Research UK. Depending on your symptoms, your doctors might be able to reassure you, arrange for a blood test, examine you internally to see if your womb and ovaries feel normal or refer you to a hospital or to see a specialist.

Treatment for ovarian cancer will depend on its size and type, its location, on whether it has spread and the patient's general health. The main treatments are surgery and chemotherapy, but other treatments include targeted medicines and hormone treatments.

Chiara Fiorillo