Danger Of Smear Test Confusion After Jade Goody's Death, UK

Main Category: Ovarian Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 03 Apr 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Thousands of women are rushing to book cervical smear tests in the wake of Jade Goody's recent tragic death at the age of 27 to ensure they don't fall victim to cancer.

But research has shown there is a danger that many women may wrongly think that getting the all-clear from a cervical cancer smear test also rules out the possibility of ovarian cancer, warns Target Ovarian Cancer (http://www.targetovarian.org.uk), a new charity fighting to improve life chances for women with cancer.

"Jade Goody's tragic death has thankfully highlighted the need for women to be more aware, but it is important they are given the correct facts," said Annwen Jones, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer. "Sadly, cervical smears do not rule out ovarian cancer, which is more common and kills more women than cervical cancer. So women need to be on their guard."

"There is, as yet, no proven screening test for ovarian cancer and this makes it all the more vital for women to be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer especially if they have had a family history of breast or ovarian cancer or have already had breast cancer themselves. Women over

40 are more likely to develop ovarian cancer."

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are persistent and frequent (on most days) and can include one or more of the following:

- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Bloating or swollen tummy
- Feeling full quickly or difficulty in eating

Occasionally there are other symptoms, including changes in bowel or urinary habits, lower back pain and extreme fatigue. (Source: DoH Symptoms Awareness Messaging 2008)

Women with concerns about any persistent symptoms like these can ask their GP to consider ovarian cancer. GPs may then refer them for a CA125 blood test, an internal pelvic examination and an ultrasound scan (TVU) to help rule out ovarian cancer.

The good news is that women have a 90% survival rate if ovarian cancer is caught early. But the bad news is that they only have a 30% survival rate if diagnosed at a later stage and too many women are dying in the UK (12 women a day). The UK's survival rates lag behind the rest of Europe and Target Ovarian Cancer wants to know why.

Target Ovarian Cancer was newly launched in November at an event chaired by its Patron, Sir Kenneth Calman, Chair of the National Cancer Research Institute and former Chief Medical Officer. The charity aims to bring everyone working in the field of ovarian cancer together to combat ovarian cancer's low 30% survival rate in the UK (which has remained largely unchanged for 30 years). When breast cancer was similarly targeted by dynamic and energetic campaigners in recent years, real progress was made. Thirty years ago the survival rate for breast cancer was 50%, but now it is nearer 80%.

Now Target Ovarian Cancer, led by experienced cancer health campaigners, has commissioned the largest in-depth investigation of its kind, a nationwide survey - The Pathfinder Study - into the experiences of women with ovarian cancer, GPs, nurses, clinicians, specialists and researchers to identify gaps in treatment and provision so improvements can be made. The charity also aims to target more than £7.5 million into ovarian cancer education, research and advocacy over the next three years.

Notes

1. Dr Foster Intelligence's Research and Consultation Services team completed a nationwide survey into levels of awareness of ovarian cancer in February 2007 ( for Ovarian Cancer Action). The shock results found that only one in six, a mere 16 per cent, of women were aware of ovarian cancer. This compares starkly to the more than four out of five, 84 per cent, of women who are aware of breast cancer. The survey also found that confusion surrounding the differences between ovarian and cervical cancer meant that nearly half of the women surveyed thought that a smear test would tell them whether or not they have ovarian cancer. Two thirds of women (66 per cent) were not able to cite any symptoms of ovarian cancer.

2. Symptoms Awareness leaflets (available in a range of languages) can be downloaded from the Target Ovarian Cancer website at http://www.targetovarian.org.uk.

3. Target Ovarian Cancer is liaising closely with other cancer organisations and the Department of Health. Working with the National Cancer Intelligence Network and the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative, it is helping to monitor the implementation of the DoH's Cancer Reform Strategy.

4. Figures released by the Office of National Statistics in March 2009 revealed that five year survival rates had improved for most of the common female cancers in England, but not for ovarian cancer. Indeed, based on the mortality to incidence ratio, the outlook for ovarian cancer patients is the bleakest of all. UK survival rates for ovarian cancer are the worst in Europe and have remained largely unchanged for 30 years, whereas survival rates for breast cancer have increased from 50% to 80% and the latest relative survival figures for England show that 66% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer between 2000 and 2001 were alive five years later (Source: NHS UK Cervical Cancer Screening Programmes).

5. The Pathfinder Study is the most ambitious investigation of its kind ever launched into the experiences of women with ovarian cancer in the UK, ovarian cancer diagnosis, treatment and research. Chaired by Professor Robert Haward, Emeritus Professor of Cancer Studies, University of Leeds and Associate Director, National Cancer Research Network, the Pathfinder Study aims to establish a robust evidence base for improvements in the care and treatment of women with ovarian cancer. Thousands of women with ovarian cancer, nurses, clinicians, gynaecological medical oncologists, researchers, surgeons specialising in gynaecological oncology and general practitioners are being invited to take part in the ongoing longitudinal study in future years. (Details of The Pathfinder Study panel in full http://www.targetovarian.org.uk)

6. There is currently no accepted screening test for ovarian cancer but researchers continue to search for a reliable screening test.

Source
Target Ovarian Cancer