I've been meaning to write about OCRA's latest consensus statement. So I am happy to share this information/ text from the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), with the full endorsement of
the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, has launched a new campaign in the
fight against ovarian cancer, a bold and important direction for
everyone who cares about the future of this field and who cares about
saving lives.
The campaign, called Until There’s a Cure,
urges people to know their risk; promotes genetic testing to at-risk
populations; and encourages women and anyone born with ovaries to
discuss prophylactic surgery with their doctor.
“There is
currently no cure for the deadliest of all gynecological cancers, nor is
there a way to screen for it that has any impact on mortality. But we
know there is a way to dramatically reduce the risk,” said Audra Moran,
President and CEO of OCRA. “Ovarian cancer is considered a rare disease,
but for those with a family history and/or genetic mutation, the risk
jumps to 40-50% or even higher. So, knowing one’s risk level is
critical. We also know that 70% of ovarian cancer begins in the
fallopian tubes, so we are encouraging people who are done having
children to discuss with their doctors the possibility of having their
tubes removed. Essentially, we want everyone with ovaries to know their
risk level, and to know the actions they can take to help prevent
ovarian cancer. Until there is a cure, these are our best weapons in
this battle.”
Because knowing one’s risk level is critical, OCRA is providing free at-home genetic testing kits
to anyone with a personal or family history of breast, gynecologic, or
colon cancer. These individuals can fill out a brief questionnaire to
determine whether they qualify for the program, and, if they do, have
the kits sent to them at no cost. (The test kits are being offered to
people 18 or older in the United States only.)
Concurrently, OCRA
urges women and those born with ovaries to discuss preventative action
with their doctor. Scientists know that the most common and lethal form of ovarian cancer
actually starts in the fallopian tubes, with microscopic precursor
lesions developing long before any symptoms would ever arise. People who
are at increased risk for developing ovarian cancer should consider
bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of both fallopian tubes and
ovaries) or bilateral salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes, but
keeping the ovaries in place so as to avoid surgical menopause). Those
at average risk for developing ovarian cancer and who are undergoing
pelvic surgeries for benign conditions (hysterectomy, tubal ligation,
cysts, endometriosis) should consider having their tubes removed at the
same time (a procedure known as opportunistic salpingectomy).
“Opportunistic
salpingectomy is not targeted toward specific patients. It is not meant
for high-risk patients,” said OCRA’s Scientific Advisory Committee
member Dr. Celeste Leigh Pearce
at University of Michigan, who co-authored a recent study on the
subject. “We are targeting the 80% of high-grade serous cancers that
arise in people with no genetically increased risk for ovarian cancer
and trying to reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer overall by
providing this safe and seemingly effective procedure at the time of
hysterectomy or instead of tubal ligation.”
The new, aggressive strategy replaces decades of a focus on symptom awareness and early detection, after a rigorous clinical trial
in the United Kingdom that followed more than 200,000 women for more
than 20 years revealed sobering and deeply disappointing news: that
current screening methods do not impact mortality in average-risk women.
Put more simply, the trial showed screening and symptom awareness will
not save lives.
“This is incredibly hard information to accept
and runs contrary to almost all messaging related to ovarian cancer
awareness to date. However, to ignore learnings gained from current
research would be detrimental to the wellbeing of women and the future
of ovarian cancer research,” said Moran. “We have to focus our limited
resources on what we know actually works.”
Learn more about the campaign and how to receive free, at-home genetic testing.
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
