Earlier this year we discovered that the benefits of prostate cancer screenings may not outweigh the risks associated with the test. On Monday, a panel of medical experts came to the same conclusion about a screening for ovarian cancer in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer among women (1 in 71 women will develop the disease) and the fifth deadliest. Considering these stats you may think screening is a no-brainer, but studies show that ovarian cancer screenings of women with an average risk (women with no family history or suspicious symptoms for the disease) have many false-positive results that can lead to unnecessary operations with high complication rates. Furthermore, doctors are not convinced that detecting the cancer sooner would make a difference in a person’s likelihood of beating the disease. This news comes during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month — a great time to arm yourself with the latest information and show support to the many women who are battling this deadly disease.
New Findings about Ovarian Cancer Screenings (The New York Times)
Ovarian Cancer Statistics (Ovarian Cancer National Alliance)
Read to Support Women with Ovarian Cancer (Ovarian Cancer National Alliance)
Programs for Women with Ovarian Cancer (Ovations for the Cure)
