Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month takes place this month, it's an annual event that seeks to raise awareness of the symptoms associated with Ovarian Cancer.
Health on Female First
Regarded as the largest gynaecological killer of UK women, with over 7,000 cases every year in the UK, awareness of the disease is key to driving improvements in detection, treatment and survival rates.
With three-quarters of sufferers only diagnosed once the cancer has spread, early and accurate diagnosis is crucial.
If diagnosed in the early stages women have a five-year survival rate of above 90% - but, if diagnosed at a later stage, the same five-year survival rates are below 10%.
Ms Deborah Bruce, Consultant Gynaecologist at London Bridge Hospital, comments: “The problem with ovarian cancer is that the symptoms - if any - often present late in the process of ovarian cancer. The main symptoms, should they occur, are swelling in the abdomen, weight gain, bloating or irritable bowel like symptoms." With the symptoms of IBS being remarkably similar to those of ovarian cancer, there is a real danger of an IBS misdiagnosis. Women who experience these symptoms for three weeks or more, especially if they have a history or family history of breast, ovarian, or other cancers, should talk to their doctors about being tested for ovarian cancer.
“The main reason for misdiagnosis is that IBS is very common. However, if you start to develop IBS-like symptoms having never had them before it should raise the index of suspicion of an alternative diagnosis to simply IBS. Ovarian cancer is the 5th commonest cancer but only affects 1.4 % of the female population.”
In order to improve diagnosis rates, we must target both women’s and GPs’ awareness of the symptoms. Ms Bruce highlights the key points concerning the improvement of diagnosis rates: “Increased awareness of women to the potential symptoms of ovarian cancer, increased suspicion on the part of the GP’s who are generally the first port of call for women, and earlier referral to a Gynaecologist for RMI (Risk of Malignancy Index) assessment.”
Ms Bruce continues, commenting on the specific method of diagnosis: “Ovarian cancer is normally diagnosed with a combination of blood tests, scans and surgery. Like any cancer, it can only be 100% confirmed after surgical removal and histological examination. However, a blood test called Ca-125 is usually raised with ovarian cancer, and certain ultrasonographic changes can increase the index of suspicion. A MRI scan is often also performed to investigate further and exclude metastases (to determine if the cancer has spread or not).”
Regarding treatment for ovarian cancer, the only available treatment option is surgery. “This is major surgery requiring removal of the uterus, tubes, both ovaries, part of the omentum as well as lymph node biopsies. Many women require adjuvant chemo/radiotherapy following surgery too.”
As with all forms of cancer, lifestyle factors play a part in the risk of development: Ms Bruce comments: “It has been suggested that obesity, cigarette smoking and diet may increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer.”
Tagged in Health Ovarian Cancer Women's Health