Ovarian Cancer: US Experts Agree First National Symptom List

Ovarian Cancer: US Experts Agree First National Symptom List

Experts from several US cancer organizations have agreed on a national list of symptoms that could help the detection of early stage ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is often called the "silent killer" because in most cases it is only detected after it has spread beyond the ovaries. And until now there has been a commonly held view that there are no early warning signs.

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of the gynecological cancers with 22,000 new cases and 15,000 deaths in the US expected this year. About 80 per cent of ovarian cancer cases are not detected early, resulting in a poor survival chance.

The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, and the American Cancer Society have announced the first national agreement on ovarian cancer symptoms.

Based on research led by Dr Barbara Goff, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington, who has published several papers in recent years, the symptoms that are much more likely to be experienced by women with ovarian cancer compared to the general population are:

* Bloating.
* Pelvic or abdominal pain.
* Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly.
* Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency).

Women experiencing these symptoms daily for several weeks should see their doctor, preferably a gynecologist, said the joint announcement.

According to Goff women with these symptoms should have a full physical and gynecological exam that includes examination of the pelvis and rectum. If these show up any abnormalities then an ultrasound exam should follow, to look for ovarian masses. Blood tests and other procedures may also be needed, depending on what the ultrasound shows.

Even if the ultrasound is clear, doctors should consider other tests, such as colonoscopy or CAT scans, to find out what is causing the symptoms, said Goff.

April Donahue, president of the NOCC said her organization had launched a nationwide campaign called "Break the Silence" to raise women's awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and to "encourage them to pay attention to their bodies and proactively engage in discussions with their physicians".

source : www.medicalnewstoday.com