Can ovarian cancer be detected at an early stage?
Currently we do not know if screening for ovarian cancer is beneficial. National trials are now taking place to see whether screening can detect ovarian cancer early. If your family history suggests you have a higher than average risk of getting ovarian cancer you may be able to be tested (screened) every so often to look for early signs of the disease. Trials are also looking at whether it is worth screening the general population. This means screening women with no family history of ovarian cancer. The results of these trials will not be known for some time. Screening may involve: A blood test to look for a substance called CA125 Most ovarian cancer cells make a chemical called CA125. It gets into the bloodstream and can be found through a blood test. Doctors call this type of chemical a tumour marker. Women with ovarian cancer tend to have a raised level of CA125 in their blood. It is not, however, a foolproof test. For example, not all women with ovarian cancer have raised CA125. O
