Patient education: Ovarian cancer screening (The Basics)

What is ovarian cancer screening? — 

This is a way to look for early signs of ovarian cancer in people who have no symptoms.

To screen for ovarian cancer, doctors can do a blood test called "CA 125," an imaging test called an ultrasound, or both. These tests do not always give useful information about whether a person has ovarian cancer. Doctors sometimes recommend them for people who are at high risk for ovarian cancer. But experts do not recommend screening for people at average risk.

The goal of screening is to find cancer early, before it has a chance to grow, spread, or cause problems. Unfortunately, there is no good proof screening for ovarian cancer actually helps people live longer.

How does ovarian cancer screening work? — 

Screening can involve a blood test, an ultrasound, or both. The CA 125 blood test is used most often. Other tests are also available or being studied.

●CA 125 blood tests – CA 125 is a protein in the blood that goes up when a person has ovarian cancer. But CA 125 also goes up in other health conditions that do not involve cancer. So this test can help find ovarian cancer in some people, but it is not always clear.

●Pelvic ultrasound – This uses sound waves to create images of the inside of your body. The person doing the ultrasound will place a thin wand into your vagina.

Ultrasounds can find abnormal growths on the ovaries, but they cannot tell if the growths are caused by cancer. Sometimes, these growths are caused by less serious health conditions or even normal changes that happen during the menstrual cycle (monthly period).

Who should be screened for ovarian cancer? — 

It is not clear. For now, experts agree:

●People who are at average risk for ovarian cancer do not need to be screened. This includes people who do not have a family history of ovarian cancer or a cancer gene (described below).

●People who are at high risk for ovarian cancer, and still have their ovaries, should sometimes be screened. This includes people who have a family history of ovarian cancer or a gene that increases their chances of getting ovarian cancer. People with the highest risk include those who had genetic tests showing they:

•Carry the "BRCA" genes

•Have a genetic condition called Lynch syndrome, also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer ("HNPCC")

If you have a family history of ovarian cancer or have genes that put you at risk for getting ovarian cancer, discuss the pros and cons of screening with your doctor. They can help you decide if you should be screened.

What are the benefits of being screened for ovarian cancer? — 

The main benefit is that it might help doctors find cancer early, when it should be easier to treat. But studies have shown screening does not reduce the chance of dying from ovarian cancer.

What are the drawbacks of being screened for ovarian cancer? — 

The main drawback is that it can lead to "false positives." This is when screening shows you might have cancer when you actually do not. This can lead to unneeded worry and more tests.

A false-positive test sometimes leads to unneeded surgery. It is best to avoid having surgery if you do not need it. This is because all surgeries have risks and can cause complications.

What happens after ovarian cancer screening? — 

You should get a phone call or letter with your results. If you do not hear back about your results within 2 weeks, call your doctor's or nurse's office. Do not assume your screening test was normal if you hear nothing.

What if my screening test is abnormal? — 

Try not to panic. Many people who have abnormal results do not have ovarian cancer. You will need more tests to find out if you actually have cancer.

Most people with abnormal results find out they do not have cancer after further testing. But some people with abnormal results need surgery to know for sure if they have cancer.

More on this topic

Patient education: Genetic testing for breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Ovarian cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Cancer screening (The Basics)
Patient education: CA 125 test (The Basics)
Patient education: Pelvic ultrasound (The Basics)

Patient education: Screening for ovarian cancer (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Genetic testing for hereditary breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Ovarian cancer diagnosis and staging (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Treatment of ovarian cancer (Beyond the Basics)