New Screening Could Catch Ovarian Cancer in Earlier Stages

The best way to beat cancer is to get out in front of it. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial and thanks to a new screening procedure at the University of Texas, ovarian cancer just got a little less threatening. Read below about how the new screening process may help identify ovarian cancer earlier in women.

Ovarian cancer is so dangerous -- it kills about 14,000 of the 20,000 U.S. women diagnosed each year -- because it has few telltale symptoms and is often not detected until it’s in fairly advanced stages. But researchers at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have now shown that a new screening procedure may help identify ovarian cancer cases earlier and more accurately. If their study results can be duplicated in a larger trial, they say, the screening could potentially save many of those lives in the near future.

Published today in the journal Cancer, the new study gave more than 4,000 post-menopausal women -- the age group most likely to get ovarian cancer -- a blood test that looked at levels of a protein called CA125. Based on a new algorithm to calculate their cancer risk, 5.8 percent of the women were classified as "intermediate risk" and were told they'd need a follow-up blood test there months later.

Another 0.9 percent were classified as "high risk" and were referred to a specialist for an ultrasound. Ten of those women had what were dubbed "suspicious" ultrasounds and underwent surgery -- four of whom were found to have early-stage, invasive ovarian cancer. Five had benign or non-invasive ovarian tumors, and one had endometrial cancer -- demonstrating that the screening-and-ultrasound combo leaves very little room for false positives.

Because the study was so small, says lead author Karen Lu, MD, these results alone won't change screening protocol in real life. But the researchers are awaiting the results of a much larger clinical trial taking place now in Europe that also uses the same new screening algorithm. "If the results of this study are also positive, then this will result in a change in practice," Dr. Lu adds.

For the full article from Self follow the link: http://on.self.com/1lcUd2i

Ovarian Cancer Myths

Ovarian Cancer has a higher mortality rate than breast cancer. However many people are often unaware or even confused about the simple facts about ovarian cancer. This article from mamamia.com busts six of the most common myths about ovarian cancer.

Myth 1: Ovarian cancer is detected through a pap smear.

Pap smears are actually designed to detect cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer. When a doctor suspects that a patient may have ovarian cancer, they will perform a pelvic exam to check for growths or masses on the ovaries. Transvaginal ultrasounds can also be used to detect it, as can blood tests which detect higher levels of protein CA 125 in the blood stream – as this is often the case for women with advanced ovarian cancer.

Myth 2: You need to have a family history of ovarian cancer to develop it yourself.

This is another myth. Only 10 to 15 percent of ovarian cancers are inherited. But it’s true that one of the greatest factors that indicate risk is the presence of the inherited mutated genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2 – the same genes that Angelina Jolie detected, which motivated her to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy.

Myth 3: There are NO early symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is often called the ‘silent killer’, because many people believe that symptoms only present in late stages of the disease – but this is a misnomer. However, there are early symptoms – the difficulty is that they are often mistaken for signs of other conditions. Common symptoms include bloating, urinary urgency or pelvic discomfort and pain, swelling and bloating, or abdominal pressure.

Because women often delay asking their GP’s advice about these symptoms, diagnosis can be significantly delayed – and when it is given, the ovarian cancer may have spread already.

Myth 4: Women who’ve had a hysterectomy can’t get ovarian cancer.

This isn’t true. If one, or even both, of the ovaries are preserved, ovarian cancer is still possible. During a hysterectomy, a surgeon usually removes the uterus and the cervix. In some instances, a surgeon will also remove the ovaries and the fallopian tubes. However, even when the ovaries are removed there is a very small chance of developing the disease.

Myth 5: Sexual activity affects chance of developing ovarian cancer.

Some women believe that the number of sexual partners they have had, has something to do with the development of ovarian cancer – but this is completely untrue. The spread of the HPV virus, which can cause cervical cancer and is linked to sexual activity is not connected with ovarian cancer in any way.

Myth 6: Ovarian cancer is always deadly.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, ovarian cancer is the most deadly of all gynecological cancers – but relative survival rates for ovarian cancer have increased in recent years in Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, between the periods 1982-1987 and 2006-2010, the five-year relative survival increased from 32.4 per cent to 43.3 per cent.

It is not always deadly – and that’s why it’s so important that women take any symptoms they may be suffering seriously, and ask their GP for an opinion. The sooner any cancer is detected, the better. Breaking these myths about ovarian cancer will surely help.

Click the link to read the full article from mamamia.com: http://bit.ly/1n5OGit