Study Links Four Key Symptoms to Early Ovarian Cancer Detection

Ovarian cancers are usually detected in advanced stages, and it is very difficult to treat. Researchers previously thought that women often only experienced symptoms of ovarian cancer when the disease was already advanced. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are also difficult to recognize because they are vague and similar to other conditions. But a recent study has recently revealed that there may be hope for detecting ovarian cancer in its early stages. Researchers mainly focused on women who had four specific symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, frequent urination, and feeling full quickly. 

In this study, researchers involved 2,596 women aged between 16 and 90 from 24 UK hospitals. Then these women were asked to monitor for four symptoms such as persistent abdominal distension, feeling full after eating, loss of appetite, pelvic or abdominal pain, and urgent or frequent urination. 

Women with persistent or frequent persistent or frequent symptoms were placed on a fast-track pathway. They were asked to see a doctor within two weeks.  

1,741 participants underwent a fast-track test that measured cancer antigen 125 (CA125). Then they were sent for an internal vaginal ultrasound if abnormal levels were detected.  

When researchers observed the collected data, they found that the fast-track pathway is more effective in detecting ovarian cancer than general screening, with 12% of women diagnosed with some form of ovarian cancer. 6.8% of fast-tracked patients were diagnosed with high-grade serious ovarian cancer. It is the most aggressive form that causes 90% of ovarian cancer deaths. 

One in four aggressive women were diagnosed with cancer in its early stages that allowed early treatment of lethal cancer before it significantly spread.  

The treatment of aggressive cancer showed promising signs, with 95% of cases undergoing surgery and 77% receiving chemotherapy, and 61% of women achieving complete cytoreduction. 

This study shows that early detection of ovarian cancer through early testing and symptom referral may improve outcomes, although survival rates were not tracked. It also shows that there is a need for public awareness about these four symptoms. 

Doctors need to know all the different ways ovarian cancer can show up, even if the symptoms are not specific. But teaching the public to look out for these four specific symptoms can help them detect ovarian cancer earlier than expected. 

This study is very important as it can help healthcare professionals detect ovarian cancer earlier. Hence, they should consider this study and suggest women to check for these symptoms. If they experience symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, frequent urination, and feeling full quickly, they should see a doctor. This can reduce the risk of the development of ovarian cancer in the early stage.