 |  | | | Ovarian Cancer | 7 Apr 2008 | | |
Can the ‘silent killer’ be detected early?
Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common women’s cancer: about 6,000 women are diagnosed per year. It is known as the ‘silent killer’ because it’s usually detected late. Screening for ovarian cancer is not an exact tool and many false positive results are identified. There has been a debate within the medical community as to the relative benefit and harm of raising public awareness of the symptoms that may serve as early warning signs of the illness. Those symptoms can be indicators of other conditions apart from ovarian cancer, and their identification as early signs of cancer can cause great anxiety to patients, which may be counterproductive. Others, however, argue that recognising them is essential to saving lives.
Sheila discusses the issues with Alexandra Ford, head of the Eve Appeal, and Dr Usha Menon, lead researcher on UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening.
'Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Awareness – Harm or Help?' A Consensus Conference organised by the Eve Appeal in partnership with Ovacome, the ovarian cancer support charity, is on 8th April 2008 at the UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health.The Eve Appeal
Ovarian Cancer Action
Ovacome, the patient support charity
Cancer Research UKDisclaimer
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