"We are trying to answer the question that almost every woman with ovarian cancer asks - what can I do to help beat this disease", says Penny Webb, Associate Professor from gynaecological cancers group of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. Since, women with the disease are often found dismayed, he along with his colleagues have planned a study to address the concerns, a recent report reveals.

The study being funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is aimed at finding the factors of lifestyle that may improvise the deadly condition. Nearly 1200 women have been decided to be enrolled in the trial to go for a period of five years.

Asking about their diets, history of smoking and exercise levels as well as medications, it would be decided what lifestyle they should be recommended to follow, says the team. It is being said that quality of life particularly during chemotherapy would be looked at. Since, toxicity by overdose may probably be a big issue while recovering.

Blood samples of all women would be taken for the Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle study (OPAL), the report finds. The aim is to find out if genetic factors may also influence the treatment effects or respond to chemotherapy drugs.