Ovarian Cancer Screening- The Brits are Saying Don’t Wait!

Women who are at risk for Ovarian cancer should know about a Phase-1 study performed in Britain(1). The investigators provided annual vaginal sonograms and CA 125 blood tests to screen greater than 3500 women who were deemed to be at 10% or greater lifetime risk for ovarian cancer. The average age was 44.6 years and all women were advised that risk reducing salpingo-oophorectomy was recommended. The British study suggests that screening can lead to an earlier diagnosis with an acceptable rate of false positive screens The second phase of the trial will increase the screening interval from 12 to 4 months. Their recommendation is that women with an elevated risk for familial ovarian or fallopian tube cancer should be advised to begin screening in their mid 30s and that risk reducing gynecological surgery should be performed no later than early