Blood Test-Symptoms Combo Can Increase Ovarian Cancer Detection

It is already known that ovarian cancer or cancer of the ovaries can be deadly. However, as long as the cancer is detected at the earliest possible time — the chances of responding well to treatment and survival are increased. But of course, that also applies to any other type of cancer.

The limiting factor always lies in the availability and access of patients to screening procedures. Not to mention the accuracy of the procedure itself.

Now, regarding the detection of ovarian cancer, The Washington Post reports:

U.S. researchers boosted the level of early-stage ovarian cancer detection by 20 percent through use of a blood test to detect a tumor marker as well as a woman’s report of new-onset symptoms.

Using either test alone only uncovered about 60 percent of early-stage ovarian cancers in a high-risk group of women, while the two techniques together found 80 percent of early-stage tumors.

Such were the findings published online yesterday in the journal Cancer.

According to the study’s lead author . Robyn Andersen, an associate member of the Public Health Sciences Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle:

“They appear to act complementary, and appear to be able to identify women who would not be identified by a blood sample alone, and conversely would not be identified by symptoms alone.

Currently, only about 20 percent of ovarian cancers are caught in their earliest, potentially curable stages.”

On a personal note — let us not forget what education about this cancer can do to women, most especially women belonging to the under-served population (for the lack of better word!). I just believe that the more women are aware of their risks, the more they will practice caution (whenever applicable) and seek medical treatment or subject themselves to screening as soon as possible.

Read the full report from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.