Is there a screening standard for ovarian cancer?
There is currently no accepted standard to screen for ovarian cancer. Pelvic ultrasound can be used to evaluate the ovaries in women with symptoms. However, routine or annual screening of normal women with ultrasound or CA-125 blood testing is not recommended since the false positive rate can lead to additional unnecessary testing or surgery. New blood tests and improving technology may some day offer the possibility of an affordable and reliable screening standard. Until then, women should pay attention to their bodies, know their family history and report their concerns immediately to their physician. What treatment options are available? Women suspected of having ovarian cancer should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist for consultation and management. For most women, surgery is the initial treatment and includes removal of both ovaries and tubes and a hysterectomy. Additional surgical staging and tumor removal may be indicated. Studies have shown that survival can be improved w
