Ovarian Cancer Screening Questioned

Main Category: Ovarian Cancer
Article Date: 29 May 2004 - 13:00 PDT

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Ovarian cancer is the fifth major cause of death among women, but a routine screening for ovarian cancer is not needed, according to the latest recommendations.

Researchers recommend against routine ovarian cancer screening for women saying the harms outweigh the potential benefits.

Researchers say there is no existing evidence that any screening test reduces mortality from ovarian cancer.

They say the majority of women who have a positive screening will not have ovarian cancer.

Specifically, researchers say out of 100 women who test positive, only two actually have ovarian cancer. However researchers say women who have a family history of ovarian cancer may benefit from a screening, but clinical trials need to be done to determine this.

Thus researchers suggest that doctors remain vigilant for early warning signs of the disease.

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