Posted: December 24, 2015 Contributor: PRJKT RUBY
New Screening for Ovarian Cancer on the Horizon
Early detection is key to getting proper treatment for cancer and now a new screening for ovarian cancer may make this crucial part that much easier.
A new study may potentially save lives. More than 200,000 women and 14 years of gathered information have recently become part of a newly released study. While more follow-up is needed before definite conclusions can be drawn, this new screening could help discover the cancer in women that typically has no symptoms and a poor prognosis.
According to the American Cancer Society, this year alone there have been 21,290 new cases and 14,180 deaths are expected.
This new detection is based around a mathematical formula that measures CA125 (known as a “tumor marker”) by factoring in certain information like a woman’s age and the amount that CA125 changes over a period of time. While this screening isn’t ready yet to be put into use, it does appear that it could be of considerable use in the future. In fact, according to a statement released by the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance called the study “promising” but agreed that more data analysis would be needed to find out just how useful the test could be.
Ovarian Cancer Facts
- Ovarian cancer claims roughly 140,000 deaths a year.
- Knowing your family history of ovarian cancer if very important.
- While there are often no symptoms, some women may experience any of the following: increased size of the abandon, pelvic or abdominal pain, frequent urination, feeling full too quickly or trouble eating.
- Early diagnosis is key – up to 90% of women are likely to love for more than 5 years with early diagnosis.
- A pap test will not detect ovarian cancer.