News: New blood test could detect first signs of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer because it’s hard to detect until it’s too late.

If found early, however, it’s treatable.

Enter a new blood test, which could be the key to saving thousands of lives each year.

An 11-year study, published in the journal Cancer, tested a new screening strategy for ovarian cancer that focuses on changes in a specific blood protein (one that is a known tumor marker) on over 4000 post-menopausal women.

The study found that the blood test is a highly accurate way to detect ovarian cancer in its early stages.

"Our findings suggest that using a longitudinal (or change over time) screening strategy may be beneficial in post-menopausal women with an average risk of developing ovarian cancer," lead author Karen Lu, MD, said in a press release.

She is currently waiting on the results of a larger, randomized study. "If the results of this study are also positive, then this will result in a change in practice," she said.

That means this new blood test could soon be coming to your doctor’s office, too. It also means ovarian cancer will no longer be a "silent killer."

-Katharine Watts, associate web editor

Related:
‘ Ovarian cancer: The quest for a test
‘ The 5 deadliest cancers for women
‘ Ovarian cancer