|
About 20% of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage. When
ovarian cancer is found early at a localized stage, about 94% of
patients live longer than 5 years after diagnosis. Several large
studies are in progress to learn the best ways to find ovarian cancer
in its earliest stage.
Ways to find ovarian cancer early
Regular women's health exams
During a pelvic exam, the health care professional feels the
ovaries and uterus for size, shape, and consistency. A pelvic exam is
recommended because it can find some reproductive system cancers at an
early stage, but most early ovarian tumors are difficult or impossible
for even the most skilled examiner to feel. Pelvic exams may, however,
help identify other cancers or gynecologic conditions. Women should
discuss the need for these exams with their doctor.
The Pap test is effective in detecting cervical cancer early,
but it is not a test for ovarian cancer. Rarely ovarian cancers are
found through Pap tests, but usually these are at an advanced stage.
See a doctor if you have symptoms
Early cancers of the ovaries tend to cause symptoms that are
more commonly caused by other things. These symptoms include abdominal
swelling or bloating (due to a mass or accumulation of fluid), pelvic
pressure or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly,
and/or urinary symptoms (having to go urgently or often). Most of these
symptoms can also be caused by other less serious conditions, but when
the symptoms are caused by ovarian cancer they tend to be more severe
and are a change from how a woman usually feels.
By the time ovarian cancer is considered as a possible cause
of these symptoms, it may have already spread beyond the ovaries. Also,
some types of ovarian cancer can rapidly spread to the surface of
nearby organs. Still, prompt attention to symptoms may improve the odds
of early diagnosis and successful treatment. If you have symptoms
similar to those of ovarian cancer almost daily for more than a few
weeks, and they can't be explained by other more common conditions,
report them to your health care professional -- preferably a
gynecologist -- right away.
Screening tests for ovarian cancer
Screening tests and exams are used to detect a disease, such
as cancer, in people who do not have any symptoms. Perhaps the best
example of this is the mammogram, which can often detect breast cancer
in its earliest stage, even before a doctor can feel the cancer. There
has been a lot of research to develop a screening test for ovarian
cancer, there hasn’t been much success so far. There are 2
tests that are used most commonly to screen for ovarian cancer. These
tests, transvaginal sonography and CA-125, are often offered to women
who are at high risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer, such as
those with a very strong family history.
Transvaginal sonography is an ultrasound test that places a
small instrument in the vagina. It can help find a mass in the ovary,
but it can't actually tell which masses are cancers and which are not.
CA-125 is a protein in the blood that is higher in many women
with ovarian cancer. The problem with this test is that conditions
other than cancer can also cause high levels of CA-125. In addition,
someone with ovarian cancer can still have a normal CA-125 level. When
a CA-125 level is abnormal, many doctors will repeat the test (to make
sure the result is correct). The doctor may also consider ordering a
transvaginal ultrasound test.
In studies of women at average risk of ovarian cancer, these
screening tests did not lower the number of deaths caused by ovarian
cancer. This is why transvaginal sonography and the CA-125 blood test
are not recommended for ovarian cancer screening of women without known
strong risk factors. Even when these tests are used in women at high
risk, it is not known how helpful they are. Ways to improve ovarian
cancer screening tests are being researched. Hopefully, further
improvements will make these tests effective enough to lower the
ovarian cancer death rate.
There are no recommended screening tests for germ cell tumors
or stromal tumors. Some germ cell cancers release certain protein
markers such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and
alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) into the blood. After these tumors have been
treated by surgery and chemotherapy, blood tests for these markers can
be used to see if treatment is working and to determine if the cancer
may be coming back.
Researchers continue to look for new tests to help diagnose
ovarian cancer early.
Last Medical Review: 08/27/2009
Last Revised: 08/27/2009
|
