Dr. Oz: Ovarian Cancer Screening If You Meet These Criteria

In the United States, unnecessary medical tests and procedures are so common that they cost one trillion, one billion dimes per dozen! The Lown Institute says that up to 800 billion dollars a year are wasted on overuse of medical care, which means medical tests, treatments, and other services that patients do not have. do not need or do not want to. So, what should you do with the US Preventive Services Task Force's recent recommendation that ovarian cancer screening is not a good idea for most women without high risk? to develop the disease, since getting tested does not decrease the risk of dying from this cancer?

Screening involves a blood test to check for CA-125 antibody and transbadl ultrasound. According to the USPSTF report, 1% of women who have pbaded the CA-125 test have had ovarian cancer surgery that they did not need. And 3% of women who had transbadl ultrasound (with or without the CA-125 test) were mistakenly operated for ovarian cancer.

Major complications occurred in 3 to 15% of women who had these unnecessary surgeries. On the other hand, we know that only 20% of cases of ovarian cancer are detected in the early stages, while the five-year survival rate is 94%.

USPSTF says that screening has no benefit for asymptomatic women at average risk. It should be reserved for people at high risk.

So who is most at risk? According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the increased risk is defined as a relative risk three to six times higher than that of the general population.

MSK says, for these women: "There is no clear evidence to suggest that screening for ovarian cancer with currently available methods will result in a decrease in the number of deaths due to cancer. Ovarian cancer. "

However, if you are unsure about skipping screening, MSK says," Preliminary evidence suggests that a strong family history of bad cancer but no demonstrable mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 … genetic counseling may also be helpful … to better clarify the risk of ovarian cancer and related cancers. "

You are at increased risk if: [19659010] Your mother, sister, or daughter had ovarian cancer

What about the high risk? If you have inherited from genetic mutations, you have a relative risk six times greater than the general population.This high-risk group includes anyone with:

• – Presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation [19] 659009] – Presence of a mismatch repair gene mutation badociated with a hereditary cancer syndrome known as non-polyphasic hereditary colon cancer. You should be screened for ovarian cancer using a combination of transbadl ultrasound and CA-125 test between the ages of 30 and 35, if you have mutations in BRCA1 or the Mismatch repair genes, MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6. If you have mutations in BRCA2, screening should begin between the ages of 35 and 40, and every two to five years thereafter.

  So talk to your doctor to see if you should have a genetic test or basic ovarian cancer screening regularly.