High Cholesterol and Ovarian Cancer: Should You Be Concerned?

In most cases, high cholesterol does not directly change ovarian cancer risk or make the cancer grow, but it still matters for your overall heart health during and after cancer treatment. Evidence to date suggests that cholesterol levels themselves are not clearly linked to cancer growth, while some studies of statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) show mixed and not yet definitive benefits on cancer outcomes. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

What We Know So Far

• Cholesterol itself does not appear to drive cancer growth based on public health and clinical education materials used in oncology. ^[1]
• Research on statins and cancer outcomes is mixed: some observational studies suggest improved survival in certain cancers, but results are inconsistent and not strong enough to change standard cancer care guidelines. ^{[2] [3]}
• Large clinical resources emphasize that oncologic treatment choices and delivery (for example, surgery and chemotherapy at experienced centers) are key drivers of ovarian cancer outcomes, rather than baseline cholesterol levels. ^{[4] [5]}

Why Cholesterol Still Matters In Cancer Care

• Cardiovascular risk often rises with age and can be influenced by some cancer therapies; keeping cholesterol under control helps protect the heart during treatment and survivorship. ^{[6] [7] [8]}
• Cancer centers increasingly use cardio-oncology teams to screen and manage conditions like high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes around the time of chemotherapy and targeted therapies. ^{[9] [10] [7]}

Does Treating Cholesterol Help Ovarian Cancer?

• It’s reasonable to treat high cholesterol to lower heart and stroke risk; however, using statins specifically to improve ovarian cancer outcomes is not established practice due to mixed evidence. ^{[2] [3]}
• Existing public health reviews note biological reasons why statins could influence cancer pathways, but they also stress that findings are inconsistent and not ready for guideline-level recommendations. ^{[11] [3]}

Managing Lipids Safely During Ovarian Cancer Treatment

• Most standard ovarian cancer drugs (such as carboplatin and paclitaxel) are not known to directly worsen cholesterol, and treatment plans focus on managing common side effects like blood count changes, blood pressure elevations with certain targeted drugs (e.g., bevacizumab), and nausea/fatigue with PARP inhibitors. ^{[12] [13] [14]}
• Cardio-oncology services can coordinate timing and choice of cholesterol therapy, check for drug–drug interactions, and monitor blood pressure and lipids alongside your oncology team. ^{[9] [10] [7]}

Practical Steps You Can Take

• Consider a heart-health check with your team (lipid panel, blood pressure, glucose), especially if you’re starting or currently on therapy. ^[7]
• If you already take a statin, many people can safely continue it during cancer treatment under medical supervision; your care team can review potential interactions as part of cardio-oncology best practices. ^{[10] [7]}
• Lifestyle measures balanced diet, physical activity as tolerated, and blood pressure management support both heart health and overall resilience during treatment. ^{[6] [7]}

Key Takeaways

• Having high cholesterol by itself does not mean your ovarian cancer will be worse, and it is not a proven driver of cancer progression. ^[1]
• Keeping cholesterol in a healthy range is still important, mainly to reduce heart and vascular risks during and after cancer therapy. ^{[9] [7]}
• While research on statins and cancer outcomes is ongoing, there isn’t enough evidence to use statins solely to improve ovarian cancer prognosis; decisions should be guided by standard cardiovascular indications. ^{[2] [3]}

When to Talk to Your Care Team

• If you have a history of heart disease, very high LDL cholesterol, or are starting targeted therapies that may affect blood pressure, ask about a cardio-oncology evaluation for tailored monitoring and treatment. ^{[9] [7] [8]}
• If you’re considering starting, stopping, or switching a cholesterol medication during chemotherapy or targeted therapy, review timing and possible interactions with your clinicians as part of your integrated care plan. ^{[10] [7]}