Ovarian Cancer Testing | What You Should Know
Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths for women. This is due in part because testing often is not done until after the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries. Though testing is not widely conducted currently and as yet has not severely reduced the number of deaths, it is still the best means to prevent the spreading of the disease as early as possible.
Blood Tests: A CA-125 blood test is conducted if you or your doctor suspects that you have the cancer because of ovarian cancer-related symptoms you are exhibiting. The test looks at elevated levels of a protein known to be found in ovarian cancer cells. This test, unfortunately, only finds early ovarian cancer in 50% of women who actually have the disease. It is also less effective in premenopausal women.
Gene Tests: Scientists estimate that 10% of ovarian cancer patients get it due to heredity. If women know that breast cancer runs in their family, they should be tested – women who carry certain breast cancer gene mutations are 18%-38% more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who do not. Blood tests by a geneticist can help identify whether you carry the gene and whether you are at a high risk for ovarian cancer.
Ultrasound: A transvaginal ultrasound can help women if there is an increased risk of cancer or if ovarian cancer symptoms are present. The procedure could detect any structural changes in the ovaries that could be tell-tell signs of future cancer. The test does not however, determine what may be structural changes due to cancer or some other disorder or infection.