Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that develops in your ovaries. It is the sixth most common cancer in women in the UK, with around 7,500 new cases of ovarian cancer each year (the equivalent of 21 new cases every day).
Ovarian cancer presents with a number of non-specific symptoms. These include abdominal bloating, distension, feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite, pelvic/abdominal pain, increased urinary urgency and/or frequency, unexplained weight loss, fatigue or changes in bowel habit. These symptoms are very common which makes diagnosing ovarian cancer at an early stage quite challenging for clinicians.
The UK currently lacks a national screening program for ovarian cancer due to the absence of a reliable test that picks up ovarian cancer at an early stage. Since 2011 there is a program in place called symptom triggered testing, which means that women who have symptoms should be prioritised for a CA125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound.
CA125 is known as a tumour marker for ovarian cancer. A tumour marker is a chemical given off by cancer cells that circulates in the bloodstream. Women with ovarian cancer tend to have higher levels of CA125 in their blood than women who do not have ovarian cancer. But CA125 can also be raised for other reasons that are not related to cancer.
Transvaginal ultrasound is an ultrasound examination done by putting an ultrasound probe into the vagina. It gives a better view of the ovaries than an ultrasound over the abdomen. However, it can still be difficult to tell whether there is a cancer on the ovary or just a harmless cyst.
Research on ovarian cancer has focused on the CA125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound, but neither method has proven effective in reliably detecting ovarian cancer early enough to save lives.
A more recent study involving 24 hospitals in the UK (Part of the ROCkeTS—‘Refining Ovarian Cancer Test accuracy Scores’ project) suggests that earlier testing and specialist care could significantly improve survival rates for women with high-grade serious ovarian cancer, which is a particularly aggressive form of the disease. Over a quarter of the study’s participants were diagnosed at stages one or two, with 93% of these patients surviving more than five years post-diagnosis.
According to Cancer Research UK, you have a higher than average risk of developing ovarian cancer if two or more relatives on the same side of your family are diagnosed with ovarian cancer or breast cancer at a young age, particularly under the age of 50. It is advisable to talk to your GP if you think you are at increased risk of ovarian cancer.
As clinical negligence solicitors, we unfortunately see too many cases of missed opportunities for earlier diagnosis in cancer cases. It is hoped that further breakthroughs in research on earlier screening of ovarian cancer can prevent more lives being lost unnecessarily in the future.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to the negligence of a medical or health professional, including a delay in diagnosis, then we may be able to help you pursue a claim for compensation. Our leading team of experts are on hand to offer advice, so please get in touch with us on 0161 696 6165 or complete our online enquiry form and we will contact you directly.
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