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Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: New Ovarian Cancer Screening Test Shows Promise

Posted by on August 26, 2013 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

Woman holding stomachIN THE NEWS: A new ovarian cancer screening test is showing success in early detection – just in time for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  For women between the ages of 35-74, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Approximately one out of 71 women will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime.  When a woman is diagnosed and treated in the cancer’s earliest stages, the 5-year survival rate is over 90%. However, due to vague symptoms and few early detection tests, less than 20% of all cases are found at an early stage. Possible symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

  • Bloating
  • Pelvic or abdominal pain
  • Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
  • Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often
  • Fatigue
  • Upset stomach or heartburn
  • Back pain or pain during intimacy
  • Constipation or menstrual changes

If caught in stage III or higher, the survival rate may be as low as 30%.  For this reason, a new test that screens for ovarian cancer and appears to detect the disease in early stages is exciting news. As reported by Fox News Health, in a study of 4000 women over an 11-year period, researchers monitored the levels of protein CA-125 – or “Cancer Antigen 125” – a protein in the blood which is produced by a variety of conditions, including gynecological cancers.  During the study, women who saw a spike in their CA-125 levels were referred to an ultrasound, and as a result of their ultrasounds, 10 women underwent surgery for early stage or benign gynecological cancers. The study also suggested a low 0.1% chance of incurring a false positive.

This test differs from CA-125 tests that are currently in use.  Current CA-125 testing has incurred  a high-number of false-positives as well as a lack of sensitivity to the disease in some stages. The current testing process is primarily performed on high-risk individuals or existing cancer patients, and searches for CA-125 levels that are higher than the population’s baseline.

The promising new strategy is different because it focuses on a change in pattern instead of a specific number.  This new test establishes a baseline of CA-125 levels in each individual over time, making a sudden spike in CA-125 more noticeable.  By tracking changes in each woman’s levels of CA-125, researchers establish a personalized baseline for each individual that makes a sudden spike a more accurate indication of potential trouble.

Before you can expect to see this routine testing in your doctor’s office, however, the method has to pass more scrupulous testing. Researchers are currently waiting for the results of a much larger, randomized study with results anticipated in 2015.

For more health information and useful tips, please visit our Resources and Tools Blog on TotalHomeCareSupplies.com.

Source information for this article was provided by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Mayo Clinic and Fox News Health.  This article is for informational purposes only, and should not replace advice by a medical professional.  If you are concerned about symptoms of ovarian cancer, speak with your primary care physician.