Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer in primary care:

opportunities and hurdles

 

Why is this an important topic?

Only 30% of ovarian cancer (OC) cases are diagnosed in the early stages

 

What are the current limitations to making an early and

accurate diagnosis?

1. The lack of awareness among the general public regarding the core OC

symptoms means patients present at a more advanced stage.

2. GPs can often act as a “gatekeeper” to secondary care.

3. There is no sensitive and specific screening test for OC.

 

What can we do to improve?

1. Education – the use of social media advertisement is now the most

effective way to educate the general public (3).

2. Implementing trans-vaginal ultrasound scans to all GP practices will

ensure all patients follow the recommended referral pathway, reducing the

GPs ‘gatekeeping’ nature.

3. CA-125, currently used to diagnose OC, only has a specificity of 80% (4).

Multi–biomarker panels could improve the sensitivity and specificity.

Screening could then be implemented, increasing the number of cases

diagnosed in the early stages.

 

References:

1. Hamilton W, Peters TJ, Bankhead C, Sharp D. Risk of

ovarian cancer in women with symptoms in primary

care: population based case-control study. BMJ.

2009;339:b2998.

2, Cancer research UK. Ovarian cancer survival

[updated December 2021; cited 2023 22nd May].

Available from:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/aboutcancer/

ovarian-cancer/survival

3. Achunine E, Okoye I, Nnamani A, Okwuosa C,

Nwamaka L. Increasing Cancer Awareness Through

BWS Social Media Activities. Journal of Global

Oncology. 2018;4(Supplement 2):238s-s

4. Muinao T, Deka Boruah HP, Pal M. Multi-biomarker

panel signature as the key to diagnosis of ovarian

cancer. Heliyon. 2019;5(12):e02826.