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QUESTION: I learned from a television show that ovarian cancer can be
detected by using two tests, a sonogram and a CA 125 blood test
I called my
gynecologist and he said I could have the two tests if I had a pelvic
examination first
Because I had my uterus removed due to a class III test
result, I am somewhat cautious about other precancerous cells developing.
Since ovarian cancer is so dangerous and often a killer, shouldn’t these tests
be done on a routine basis like the PAP test?

ANSWER: You are right about the seriousness of ovarian cancer
About 18,500
cases are seen each year, and some 11,000 or more women will die of this
disease
In fact ovarian cancers are responsible for 6 percent of all cancer
deaths in women
That means it deserves some attention
Unfortunately,
neither the CA 125 blood test nor the sonogram are efficient screening tests.
The PAP smear is relatively inexpensive, can be performed in the physician’s
office, is highly reliable, and can detect the presence of abnormal cells
before they actually become cancerous
By comparison, both the CA 125 blood
test and the sonogram are relatively expensive and are not specific for
ovarian cancer
Sonograms just produce pictures of a mass or new growth,
using reflected sound waves without specific diagnosis, and the CA 125 is a
nonspecific marker that can also be elevated in conditions such as cirrhosis
of the liver
Neither test can detect the precancerous state, but are useful
in helping to make a diagnosis of a cancer already present, and then following
the results of therapy and the effectiveness of treatments
Thus the first
line of defense for this condition, as for so many others, remains the careful
and attentive physical examination performed by your physician
When this
evaluation yields indications that more investigation is necessary, the other
tests can then be ordered and interpreted
As to your worries about the
relationship between your previous PAP smear findings and this cancer, there
seems little to concern you, as one condition is not a risk factor for the
other
Incidentally, both child birth and the use of oral contraceptives
seems to lower the chance of ovarian cancer
My advice to you is to follow
the course of action your physician has outlined for you, for it certainly
follows current knowledge about ovarian cancer.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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