Jennifer Wider, MD,  Society for Women’s Health Research

Ovarian cancer, one of the  deadliest cancers among women, is often detected too late to be cured. A new  study indicates that early symptoms are often overlooked by patients and  doctors. Better recognition of early symptoms and research to improve detection  methods and treatments are key to saving patients’ lives.

Researchers at  the Sacramento campus of the University of California—Davis (UC Davis) School of  Medicine discovered that women with ovarian cancer actually complain of symptoms  months before the diagnosis. The researchers looked at the medical records of  thousands of women and found that patients with ovarian cancer were more likely  to complain of “target symptoms,” including abdominal pain and swelling more  than six months before an official diagnosis.

The study  suggests that ovarian cancer might be detected earlier in certain patients.  Women should pay attention to any new symptom and report it to their doctors  immediately. Some of the more common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:  abdominal pain and cramping, pelvic and lower back pressure, abnormal vaginal  bleeding and a change in bowel or bladder habits. 

Ovarian cancer  is the number four cancer killer among American women. It’s been dubbed, “the  silent cancer,” because most women do not realize they have it for quite some  time. Many patients who experience the initial vague symptoms attribute them to  something else. As a result, the vast majority of cases are diagnosed after the  disease has spread. If not detected early, ovarian cancer can wreak havoc on the  body. 

“As it spreads  in the abdominal cavity, it interferes with intestinal function, can cause  blockage, and ultimately loss of nutritional function,” says Lloyd Smith MD,  PhD, lead researcher of the study and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and  Gynecology at UC Davis. “The disease can also sometimes spread to other organs  like the liver and lungs. Ovarian cancer can be detected by physical (pelvic)  exam, by imaging studies (such as ultrasound) or by blood testing.” 

If detected  early, ovarian cancer has a 95 percent five-year survival rate. However, women  are not effectively screened for this type of cancer. Too many cases are  detected in later stages, making survival much less likely. 

Although  detecting ovarian cancer is possible, much more research is needed to improve  testing procedures. “All tests have pitfalls,” Smith says. “You can have false  negative or false positive tests. Ultimately, some form of intervention, like  surgery, is required to confirm the diagnosis.” 

Advances in  ovarian cancer detection and treatment are dependent upon research. A major  source of research support in the United States is the Department of Defense  Ovarian Cancer Research Program. 

“The  Department of Defense program has fostered research that has identified the role  of the hormone progestin in oral contraceptives as the key agent in reducing the  risk of ovarian cancer,” says Sherry Marts, PhD, director of scientific affairs  at the Society for Women’s Health Research. “It is also supporting research that  has advanced our understanding of biomarkers that can alert doctors to the  presence of early stage ovarian cancer, which would significantly improve early  detection and survival.” 

According to  the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, however, $37 million of ovarian cancer  proposals ranked excellent or outstanding have not been funded by the Department  of Defense program because of limited resources. 

“The treatment  of ovarian cancer has improved a lot in the last 10 to 15 years thanks to more  aggressive surgery and better chemotherapy drugs,” Smith says. “Newer forms of  therapy based on tumor molecular biology hold some promise for the future.”  

Despite the  strides made, Marts says, more research is needed to translate promising  research into effective clinical screening tools and early detection methods in  the fight against ovarian cancer.

Articles

Ovarian cancer, also known as “the silent killer,” may soon be detected earlier, giving women improved survival rates, with the recognition of specific early warning signs which including abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, urinary urgency or frequency, pelvic and lower back pressure, loss of appetite or feeling full quickly and abnormal vaginal bleeding.

The Pitfalls and Promises of Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer Early

If you’re looking to get a little color for your skin before the summer, tanning  salons are not what the doctor ordered. Tanning beds give off ultraviolet (UV)  light, which can cause your skin to tan, but can also give you wrinkles and skin  cancer.

“Indoor tanning mimics natural sunlight,” says James  Spencer, MD, professor of clinical dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of  Medicine in New York City. “But the tanning parlor is more efficient and you get  the exposure faster.”  

The sun gives off different types of radiation. The  main types are UVA and UVB. Both cause damage to the skin. “Natural sunlight is  95 percent UVA rays and 5 percent UVB,” explains Spencer. “Tanning salons give  off the same UV light, so when people go to get a cosmetic tan, they may not  realize the same rays can cause skin cancer.”  

Despite the dangers, young people are flocking to  indoor tanning beds, especially young women. Studies continue to show that young  people ignore their risk of skin cancer and use tanning beds as a way to  accelerate their tan. One study from the Indiana University School of Medicine  in Indianapolis revealed that almost half the students polled had used a tanning  lamp during the previous year. And women were much more likely to do so than  men.  

The statistics are startling especially because skin  cancer is the most common cancer among men and women in the United States, and  melanoma, the deadliest type, is the most common cancer in women between the  ages of 25 and 29.  

Young people need to be aware of their risks.  According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 80 percent of a person’s  lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. Regular use of tanning beds  increases the chance of getting skin cancer.  

Unfortunately, pressure to tan continues to be high  for young people. Advertisements for tanning salons were found in nearly 50  percent of public high schools newspapers in a small Colorado study.  Because of  the link between tanning and skin cancer, the authors of the study say it might  be advisable to ban such advertisements, especially in publications targeted at  teens.

You can take steps to protect yourself from the  dangers of UV radiation. Most dermatologists discourage the use of tanning  salons. If you have your mind set on a tan, self-tanning cream is a safer  option. And the use of sunscreen is always recommended.

“Self-tanning cream is basically a dye and is  perfectly safe,” says Spencer. “These types of dyes have been used in food for  years.” Just because your skin looks tan, it is not protected from the sun,  however. Make sure to apply sunblock in addition to the self-tanner.  

The American Academy of Dermatology issues several  recommendations in order to cut down the risk of skin cancer which include:  avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the  strongest; apply sunscreen with a sun protective factor or SPF of 15 or higher;  and wear protective clothing and a hat in the sun.  

Some people are confused over the difference in SPF  in sunscreen. “The truth is that the number is less important than how much you  apply and how often you apply it,” says Spencer. “Anything over 15 is fine; you  just need to put a lot on every two to four hours.”

Watch for the upcoming  feature on nonmelanoma skin cancer in the Summer 2006 issue of 

Many people, especially young adults and teens, are unaware of the dangers of indoor tanning beds and that they give off UV light, just like the sun, and can cause skin cancer.

Jennifer Wider, MD, Society for Women’s Health Research

The Pitfalls and Promises of Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer Early

CURExtra - The Hidden Dangers of Tanning Salons

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