Ovarian cancer is poorly understood – and resources must be devoted to understanding its origins, experts have said.
The disease has long been known as a ‘silent killer', claiming the lives of more than 14,000 women in the US each year, as well as more than 4,000 in the UK.
It is one of the deadliest cancers, with few symptoms in the early stages of the disease – and effective early screening tests are unavailable.
And yet, there remains ‘significant gaps’ in knowledge about the disease, according to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report.
The US government advisory committee’s report uncovered evidence that ovarian cancer may be ‘a constellation of different cancers’ rather than a single disease – and that it may not even originate in the ovaries.
Dr Jerome Strauss III, chair of the committee that carried out the study, said: ‘While progress has been made in ovarian cancer research over the past few decades, much remains to be learned.
The US scientific national academy warned in a new report that there are 'surprising gaps' in understanding of ovarian cancer, even though it is one of the most deadly cancers for women. The 'silent killer' has no distinguishable symptoms, is rarely caught in the early stages and has no effective early screening test
‘The more that is understood about the basic biology of various types of ovarian cancers, such as where they originate in the body, the more rapidly we can move toward advances in prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care.’
The report was released in time for Ovarian Cancer Month in the UK, which is celebrated in March, though the US counterpart is celebrated in September.
The five-year survival rate of the disease is only 46 per cent – and ovarian cancer is now known to be the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women.
The report found that ovarian cancer likely originates in tissues outside of the ovaries, including the fallopian tubes, and eventually metastasize to the ovary.
Furthermore, the report found that there’s little information about how each sub-type of ovarian cancer progresses.
And, nearly two-thirds of women with the disease are diagnosed at an advanced stage when the cancer has already spread beyond the ovary – which has a five-year survival rate of less than 30 per cent.
As a result, it is vital that early detection methods be improved – and that the public have a better understanding of the symptoms of the deadly disease.
THE TOP SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER
Ovarian cancer doesn't have any distinct symptoms, the report noted.
However, the American Cancer Society said there are a few common symptoms to look out for.
Women are far more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread beyond the ovaries.
And yet, even early-stage ovarian cancer can cause some of the following symptoms:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
- Urinary symptoms - including having to pee more frequently
Those symptoms may also arise from non-cancerous diseases - or cancers of other organs.
But, when they occur as a result of ovarian cancer, the symptoms are persistent and occur more often (and are more severe) than usual.
There are a few symptoms of ovarian cancer, including pelvic or abdominal pain, bloating, trouble eating or feeling full quickly and urinary symptoms. But, these symptoms are only signs of ovarian cancer if they are persistent and out of the ordinary. Women should see a doctor of they have 12 instances in a month
The American Cancer Society recommends a woman see her doctor - preferably a gynecologist - if she has those symptoms more than 12 times in a month.
Some other symptoms of ovarian cancer - but which are more likely to occur because of another condition - include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Back pain
- Pain during sex
- Constipation
- Menstrual changes
- Abdominal swelling with weight loss
However, the American Cancer Society noted that those symptoms are just as likely to occur in women who don't have ovarian cancer.
And so, they are not as indicative of the disease as the first set of symptoms.
HOW TO DETECT OVARIAN CANCER EARLY
Only 20 per cent of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage, according to the American Cancer Society.
But, when the disease is found early at a localized stage, nearly 94 per cent of patients survive longer than five years after the diagnosis.
Unfortunately, there isn't any one uniform tool to detect ovarian cancer, as there is with breast cancer and mammograms.
Even regular gynecological appointments, which include pelvic exams, may miss an ovarian tumor.
During pelvic exams, doctors feel the ovaries and uterus - and inspect them for size, shape and consistency.
Only 20 per cent of ovarian cancer (pictured) is detected in the early stages. There isn't any uniform tool, such as a mammogram for breast cancer, to detect the disease. However, doctors can administer a CA-125 blood test or transvaginal ultrasound to try to look for signs of the disease
Yet, the American Cancer Society noted that it is difficult 'for even the most skilled practitioner' to identify or feel ovarian tumors.
And so, if a woman experiences the symptoms listed above, she should ask her doctor to conduct one of two tests: a transvaginal ultrasound and a CA-125 blood test.
Those tests are two of the best options out there - but neither is completely accurate.
The transvaginal ultrasound uses sound waves to look at the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries through an ultrasound wand.
That test can find a mass in the ovary - though it cannot tell if it is cancer or not.
In contrast, the second test detects levels of the protein CA-125 in the blood.
For women with ovarian cancers, their CA-125 levels are often high.
But, other conditions can also cause CA-125 levels to be abnormal - and not every woman with ovarian cancer has high levels.
That's why regular transvaginal ultrasounds and CA-125 tests are not recommended.
CAN A PAP SMEAR DETECT OVARIAN CANCER?
Pap smears, which are known as smear tests in the UK, are a topic of much controversy.
In the US, the tests are recommended for all women between the ages of 21 and 65, according to the US Preventative Services Task Force.
Pap smears (pictured, called smear tests in the UK) cannot detect ovarian cancer. They only screen for cervical abnormalities and changes
And yet, in the UK, smear tests are not conducted until the age of 25.
According to the charity Target Ovarian Cancer, smear tests only screen for cervical abnormalities and changes.
Therefore, they will not detect ovarian cancer in the early stages.
The American Cancer Society noted that the tests can 'rarely' detect ovarian cancer in the advance stages, though.
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