A potential ovarian cancer breakthrough

Ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rate of any women’s cancer because often it’s caught too late.

But UK scientists believe that tumours may be detected early thanks to blood screening.

The first results of a 14-year trial from University College London of more than 46,000 women examined the efficacy of detecting chemicals in the blood. Ovarian tumours release high levels of a chemical CA125, which is already tested when patients present with symptoms.

More: Flavonoids may lower your ovarian cancer risk

However in this trial, blood tests were performed on postmenopausal women annually. Researchers tracked changes in the levels of CA125 over time and if levels were elevated, women were sent for further tests.

The results of the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, revealed that 86 per cent of cancers were picked up. Currently, the five-year survival rate of ovarian cancer is around 45 per cent.

Despite the promising results, experts are still urging caution with these preliminary findings. “It’s good, but the truth lies in whether we’ve picked up the cancer early enough to save lives, we hope we have,” said Professor Usha Menon from University College London. “There is no screening at the moment so we are awaiting the results before the NHS can decide.”

More: Five facts you should know about ovarian cancer

Last year experts called for a national ovarian cancer action plan in Australia, saying women are needlessly dying from the disease. The plan outlines research priorities, so scientists can focus on areas that have the most impact.

Currently, there’s no real early detection method for ovarian cancer. For now know the symptoms is key: chronic abdominal bloating; abdominal pelvic pain; constant urge to urinate; unexplained weight gain or weight loss; feeling full after a small amount of food and indigestion or nausea.

This Friday, May 8 is World Ovarian Cancer Day. Head to ovariancancerday.org for more details.