Cancer
Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose, but newly released information shows that where it is caught early enough, survival rates have almost doubled over the last 30 years.
These figures come from leading cancer charity, Cancer Research UK, and are based on data from the East of England Cancer Registry (ECRIC). They show that over 1,000 more women a year in England and Wales now survive cancer for at least five years. This means that the overall survival rate for early ovarian cancer has increased from 21 percent in the early 1970s to 41 percent now.
Dr James Brenton, who is based at Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute, and is an ovarian cancer clinician at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, said: "These latest figures show improvements in treatment, such as centralisation of ovarian cancer surgery and uniform access to chemotherapy, are making a difference in helping more women survive ovarian cancer, particularly those who are diagnosed earlier. But we face a real challenge in translating these improvements in survival to women whose ovarian cancer has already spread."
For women who are diagnosed later, the figures aren’t as encouraging. Women diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer - the majority (45 percent) of women, don’t fare as well. Just over 20 percent survive for five years. Only six percent of women with stage IV ovarian cancer survive for five years.
Cancer Research UK are helping to fund a trial of ovarian cancer screening. Over 200,000 women are taking part in the nationwide trial, testing whether a blood test and ultrasound screening can improve survival rates. So far, the early results have been promising. If the final results from the trial (expected in 2015) show this approach has improved survival rates, it could mean the development of a national screening programme to help diagnose ovarian cancer earlier. And that could mean many more lives are saved.
Cancer Research UK scientists are also taking part in the development of more targeted treatments. These are aimed at the particular characteristics of a woman’s ovarian cancer. These new drugs include PARP inhibitors, and may help ovarian cancer patients who have faulty BRCA genes (mutated BRCA1 and 2 genes increase your risk of familial ovarian cancer as well as breast cancer).
Clinical trials using these new treatments are already showing encouraging results. If they continue to perform well it could make a big difference to ovarian cancer patients in years to come.
"Ovarian cancer is starting to become a more controllable chronic disease but a cure remains elusive in most cases," said Dr Brenton. "We need to investigate the full potential of targeted treatments such as PARP inhibitors as they may also benefit women who don’t have faulty BRCA genes. Hopefully through these new treatments and, importantly, with better ways to screen and detect the cancer earlier, we will help more women to beat the disease."
Symptoms
In the early stage especially (Stage 1), the symptoms of ovarian cancer can easily be mistaken for other conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms can include feeling full or bloated, and having a pain in your side or lower abdomen. Some women have no symptoms at all in the very early stage.
Once the cancer has spread outside the ovary and is growing in the area of the pelvis (Stage 2 and 3), symptoms can include back and lower tummy pain, constipation, pain during sex, a swollen abdomen, loss of appetite, and having to pee more often than usual.
Once the cancer has reached the advanced stage and has spread further, into another organ, (Stage 4) you are likely to have more symptoms. These can include sickness, constipation, swollen abdomen, tiredness, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and a full feeling in your abdomen.
Ovarian cancer is much easier to treat successfully if it is caught early, so if you have any of these symptoms and are concerned about them, see your GP. And if the symptoms continue after you’ve talked to your GP, go back and see them again.
Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK’s director of cancer information, said: "These figures show that we’re making steady progress against ovarian cancer but much more needs to be done. Cancer Research UK is committed to finding new ways to treat and detect the disease. In the coming years we could really see some of the benefits of this work, particularly a potential nationwide screening programme that finds women with the disease earlier."
About ovarian cancer
With about 6,500 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, it is the fifth most common cancer in women, after breast, bowel and lung cancers and cancer of the womb. Most cases are diagnosed in women over 50.
About 4,400 women died of ovarian cancer in 2008, however mortality rates have dropped by 14 percent in the last decade.
Useful websites
Cancer Research UK - www.cancerresearchuk.org
Target Ovarian Cancer - www.targetovarian.org.uk
Ovarian Cancer Action - www.ovarian.org.uk
First published March 9, 2011