Drug News
Better method for diagnosis of ovarian cancer
By Ben Wasserman
Oct 19, 2008 - 1:51:40 PM

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A new method based on both questionnaires on symptoms and medical tests does better than either when used alone for diagnosis of early stage ovarian cancer, according to a new study.

M. Robyn Andersen, an associate member of the Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and colleagues found the new method increases the diagnosis of ovarian cancer by nearly one third.

The researchers found a questionnaire on symptoms led to the discovery of early stage ovarian cancer in 60 percent of cases while a blood test alone was also able to detect 60 percent of early stage cases.

But when the two were combined, early stage ovarian cancer could be detected in 80 percent of cases. Normally the cancer is found in its early stage in about 20 percent of cases.

Ovarian cancer is highly dangerous because it is not easy to be diagnosed in its early stage. It strikes one in every 80 women in their lifetime compared to one in every eight women. When oavrian cnacer is found in its early stage, 95 percent of patients live over 5 years, healthday.com reported.

Common symptoms include pressure or pain in the abdomen, pelvis, back, or legs, a swollen or bloated abdomen, nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation, or diarrhea; and feeling very tired all the time.

Diagnostic tests for the cancer include physical exam, pelvic exam, blood tests including CA-125, ultrasound, and biopsy.

Risk factors for ovarian cancer like many others remain largely unknown. But some factors may have something to do with an increased risk of the cancer including family history of cancer, personal history of cancer, age over 55, never pregnant and menopausal hormone therapy.

Ovarian cancer is expected to be diagnosed in 21,650 women and kill 15,520 in 2008 in the United States.