A recent study concluded that an appropriate dose of caffeine may potentially lower the risk of women developing ovarian cancer, especially if the patient is not taking any hormones. Furthermore, the results seemed to point out that smoking and drinking do not have any effects on the potential disease. However, smoking was associated with another, rarer type of the disease.

The experiment was conducted by scientists from the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health.

The team, led by Shelley S. Tworoger, analyzed data gathered from questionnaires of a previous study, which had 12,701 registered nurses as respondents. The data gathered from 110,454 women assessed a smokers' risk of cancer, as well as the risk for 80,253 women drinkers of alcohol and caffeine.

Although no association was found between alcohol, or smoking, with ovarian cancer, the scientists did note and "inverse trend" between caffeine ingestion and the disease.

Science Daily said that the experts reported, "reducing alcohol intake and cessation of smoking is not likely to have a substantial impact on risk of ovarian caner... [However,] the possibility that caffeine may reduce ovarian cancer risk... is intriguing and warrants further study."

Tworoger further recommends, "Always talk to your doctor before you make any huge lifestyle changes."

HealthDay quoted Sherry Salway Black, cancer survivor and executive director of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance: "Know the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Know your family history and your risk and talk with your health-care provider."