screening for ovarian cancer

[kcraia]

Hi!

Why is there no annual test to screen for ovarian cancer? It is my understanding that in the early stages (when we want to detect it) there are little to no symptoms. I have heard of a blood test to detect it. Is there one? What about an annual ultra sound?

thanks
C.Raia

[slee56]

In May of 08 i had the ca-125 test done and in my case it came back at a 14... we all breathed a sigh of relief except i was still having the pelvic pain pressusure and need to urinate fequently ... I early june went to the dr with a mass that presented on my right breast and had mammo biopsey and results were breast cancer
the samples were sent to the mayo for some tests the dx was possible late stage Ovairian cancer and am now scheduled for surgery on the 29th of this month ... will have two surgons gyn/onc remove the ovaries tubes and uterus and then a breast surgon do a double mastectomy . The onc said that till pathologly comes back won't know if the bottom female parts are cancer...
I am taking oxycodone 2 every 4 hours for pain... and an anti anxitey med right now .... take care

[jlock]

Medicaid can be rushed through,especially if you have a Dr. saying that this needs to be done ASAP.It should also pay 100%.  Good luck..I hope they find everything is benign.   Ovasure is still in the exp.stages, and can still give false positives.  I hate this disease,it's very ugly..and it just isn't fair that there is nothing out there to dx. this disease in it's early stages.  Hang in there..I'll keep you in prayer~~~Joanne

[djoyg]

Thank you for that information, I hadn't found it yet. From what I had read, the test is between 99.4% to 95.1% accurate, dependent upon stage at time of testing. False positive at less then 10%, only when the woman is pregnant, breastfeeding or has benign ovarian masses.

I still think I have decided to contact my doctor and ask for it. In the midst of my constant left sided pelvic pain and other symptoms/pursuing a diagnosis, I was dropped from my insurance as of the first of the month. At $225.00, it seems a more affordable next step than my last expenditure, $350.00 for the Neurologist my gyno insisted I had to see next...who determined there is nothing wrong with my spine or discs. Already ruled out the GI department, Neurologist said it could only be 1 of 2 things: OVCA or an internal bleed that has irritated the nearby nerve focally, to cause such localized pain and bloating. His report to my gyno suggested going in laporoscopically, which would not be able to see the nerve, but would be able to see pooled blood or a blood clot/potentially see cancer. My local Social Security Rep is trying to rush MediCare. I am already currently undergoing treatment for squamous cell cancer that had spread locally. When I contacted that doctor, he told me to come in anyway, he won't charge me. I have no idea how much lap. will cost without insurance. I'm a single mom of 4, my fingers are crossed I won't have to find out...or at very least MediCare will kick in fastfastfast so if I do find the anxiety from this constant pain too great to endure a moment longer, I will have some sort of back up for whatever continuing care that may be in my future.

d.

[marie3B]

I had symptoms.  ALL of the symptoms, for years.  I also had the only available tests, the CA125 and trans-vag ultra-sounds once or twice a year for years.  Still my ovca remained hidden until it was late stage. Hopefully someone will develop a screening test in the near future. Marie

[vegas2cr]

From the wall street Journal...

It's exciting and promising," said Dr. Paola Gehrig, a clinical instructor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at UNC-Chapel Hill who also practices at Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro.

But like a number of other doctors, Gehrig is also concerned that Burlington-based LabCorp may be rushing OvaSure onto the market before it's fully vetted scientifically. The concern is that it could end up causing needless worries or even physical harm for patients if the test proves less accurate than promoted and unnecessary surgeries are performed.

"I think they've way overstepped their bounds," said Dr. Andrew Berchuck, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Duke Medicine in Durham. Berchuck is also a past president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, which issued a statement earlier this month urging further study of OvaSure before its use on patients.

[crecco]

   You ask the question that many women before you have asked. If there were some kind of reliable test, so many women would not be where they are today.
   Like Ronni, by the time I started experiencing symptoms, and they were finally able to decide that it was not gastro related, I was at stage IV with mets to the liver and skin.
   Some kind of screening test would be worth its weight in gold due to the fact that so many of us are at first treated for many other things before someone decides to start looking into cancer. And many of us will always wonder if it had been found when we first started seeing a Dr for our symptoms, if it would have been caught in the earlier stages.
     Chris

[djoyg]

What about the LabCorp test, OvaSure? Has anyone here asked their doctor about it? Their news release claims 99.4% accuracy.

d.

[bohan54]

My sister is getting her ovaries removed before they can cause trouble.  Insurance probably won't cover this but she's already had Hodgkins, why risk OVCA when there is no reliable screening tool?
We just don't deserve this sh&t!

[vegas2cr]

There is NO TEST.  The ca 125 blood test you are asking about is a very inaccurate test in pre menopausal women and no great shakes for those even after.  It is used for women llike me who are already diagnosed to track it...Ultrasound is very controversial as it may or may not show anything.. it would show cysts which 95% of the time are benign and harmless.  This is why ovarian cancer is so ugly...

By the time I had symptoms which were constipation and dull ache in lower left pelvic region and no appetite within 3 weeks I was operated on and I already had stage IV with mets to the liver... 3 lousy weeks of symptoms and it was too late..

Sorry there is no answer for today... Ronni