Ovarian Cancer Screening – Telling It Like It Is

A very well-written article in USA Today honestly tells readers why an Ovarian Cancer Test Remains Elusive.

I spend a lot of time discussing ovarian cancer screening with my patients who come in anxious about the disease. Most of that time is spent explaining that, unfortunately, we still don’t have a good screening test for ovarian cancer.

I aggressively screen with ultrasound and CA 125 in women with a family history or personal risks factors for ovarian cancer. And I don’t hesitate a second to get a pelvic ultrasound in any woman complaining of the vague, non-specific symptoms associated with this cancer – bloating, early satiety, abdominal pain. (I don’t wait for other tests to be negative before ordering an ultrasound, because even though ovarian cancer is not common, it is usually rapidly growing, and won’t wait for me to finish my workup.)

But for low risk women without any complaints, I really have no screening test to offer, and this article does a nice job explaining why.

Unfortunately, what the writer does not tell women is that there is something they can do that will actually lower their risk of getting ovarian cancer in the first place. What’s that? Go on birth control pills. As little as 3 months of use imparts protection, and long term users can expect up to an 80% reduction in risk. Now that’s something to write about.

If you want more information about ovarian cancer screening and prevention, see these great web sites:
National Cancer Institute
The OvarianCancer Coalition
Contraception Online
Johns Hopkins Pathology