What is the appropriate management of early-stage ovarian cancer?
• What is the appropriate management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer? • What is appropriate followup after primary therapy? • What are important directions for future research? What Is the Current Status of Screening and Prevention of Ovarian Cancer? Introduction Recent events have brought ovarian cancer under close scrutiny in the lay press and have increased demand for early detection of this devastating disease. The survival rate of women with early-stage ovarian cancer is significantly higher than that of women with advanced-stage disease. Unfortunately, the vast majority of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with advanced disease. Although sometimes women with early ovarian cancer have symptoms such as vague gastrointestinal discomfort, pelvic pressure, and pain, more often women with early ovarian cancer have no symptoms, or very mild and nonspecific symptoms. By the time symptoms are present, women with ovarian cancer usually have advanced disease. The advent of the C
