Every year in the United States, more than 21,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 14,000 die from the disease. While five-year survival in women with the most common and fatal type of ovarian cancer, high-grade serous carcinoma, has grown in the past four decades due to numerous advances in specialty care, ovarian cancer still remains the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women.
A new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine discusses the importance of prevention and early intervention techniques in reducing the risk of ovarian cancer.
"While progress has been made in ovarian cancer research over the past few decades, much remains to be learned," said Jerome F. Strauss III, chair of the committee who carried out the study and wrote the report. He is also the executive vice president for medical affairs and dean of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
"The more that is understood about the basic biology of various types of ovarian cancers, such as where they originate in the body, the more rapidly we can move toward advances in prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care," Strauss said.
Researchers said they believe that ovarian cancers may come from other tissues besides the ovary, including the fallopian tubes, which could eventually metastasize to the ovaries. Researchers said they also do not have a complete understanding at this time of how each subtype of ovarian cancer progresses.
Part of what makes ovarian cancer so deadly is the vague symptoms. Often called the silent killer, more pronounced symptoms of ovarian cancer might include vaginal bleeding following menopause, abnormal vaginal bleeding before menopause, pelvic pain, unexpected weight gain or weight loss and appetite loss.
Previous research shows that the majority of women with ovarian cancers do not have an inherited gene or a significant family history. Those with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, have a higher risk of ovarian cancer due to these risk-related genes. However, researchers said they hope to better identify and evaluate potential risk factors unrelated to genetics, including hormonal, behavioral, social and environmental factors.
The report also touches on racial disparities regarding optimal treatment for women at risk of ovarian cancer. Data shows that women with ovarian cancer have higher survival chances if treated by a gynecological cancer specialist in places where ovarian cancer treatment is common practice. However, the report notes that this is not an option for many women.
