Detect ovarian cancer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 10, 2005 --

Detection

The sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the better a woman's chance for recovery. But ovarian cancer is hard to detect early, especially in the early stages. Some of the more common methods used to screen for ovarian cancer include the following:

� Pelvic and rectal examination: The pelvic and rectal examination includes feeling the uterus, and ovaries to find any abnormality in their shape or size. Even though rectovaginal examination is unlikely to detect early stage ovarian cancer, the rectovaginal examination is incorporated into most ovarian cancer screening programs as part of a multimodal approach to screening.

� Ultrasound: Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of the area being examined. Healthy tissues, fluid-filled cysts, and tumors look different on this picture. Ultrasound may be performed vaginally or abdominally. Ultrasound has demonstrated value in detecting ovarian malignancies in asymptomatic women although its accuracy in detecting early stage disease is poor.

� CA-125: The CA125 blood test is used to measure the level of CA-125. Elevated levels of CA125 are often in higher-than-normal amounts in the blood of women with ovarian cancer. Overall, more than 80 percent of women with advanced ovarian cancer will have an elevated CA125 level (greater than 35 u/ml), yet the test is not useful in detecting early stage disease (approximately 50% accurate). Unfortunately CA125 is even less reliable for detecting cancer in pre-menopausal women since it is frequently elevated by non-cancerous conditions such as pregnancy, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, liver disease, and benign ovarian cysts. Most gynecologic oncologists employ CA125 for surveillance of ovarian cancer after the diagnosis has been surgically confirmed since it is a sensitive indicator of persistent or recurrent disease.

How to detect it...

What are some diagnostic tests that can be used to detect ovarian cancer?

No consistently reliable, accurate screening test to detect ovarian cancer exists. The Pap test does not detect ovarian cancer. The following tests are available and should be used:

� Mandatory annual vaginal exam for women age 18 and above and annual rectovaginal exam for women age 35 and above. (Physician inserts fingers in the rectum and vagina simutaneously to feel for abnormal swelling and to detect tenderness.)

� Transvaginal sonography for women, especially those at high risk. (An ultrasound performed with a small instrument place in the vagina.)

� Blood test to determine if the level of a tumor marker called CA-125 has increased in the blood for women at high risk. Its role in postmenopausal women is superior to that in premenopausal women. (This test is not definitive because some non-cancerous diseases of the ovaries also increase the CA-125 levels, and some ovarian cancers may not prduce enough CA-125 levels to cause a positive test.)

� CA125 blood test (OncoLink)

� If any of these tests are positive, consultation with a gynecological oncologist should be considered. X-ray studied and/or samples of fluid from the abdomen or tissue from the ovaries may be performed.



more:
http://www.ovarian.org/