Screening for ovarian cancer

[Gaby]

I've just come back from an appointmnet with my sister to discuss the possibility of both of us having yearly screening for ovarian cancer, due to there being an increased risk to us because of family history. Also within our family there is an increased risk of brest cancer and so both of us have regular mammograms.The screening for ovarian cancer would involve a blood test and scan.

I think I will probably go ahead with the screening as it is part of a national study and will hopefully lead to greater detection of ovarian cancer. I suppose my worry is that the screening itself could be pretty stressful and whilst there is an increased risk to me and my sister, it is important to get it into perspective and not let it dominate our lives...
Has anyone got any experience of this ?

If you don't mind me asking, Gaby, what is the 'family history' you talk about? I have recently found out that my grandmother on my Dad's side died of Ovarian cancer. She was about 65 and it was all before I was born so I never knew her. Would it be worth me investigating this screening, if so, who do I contact?

On my father's side of the family there are cases of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women ( second cousins, grandmother and cousin).One of my second cousins had ovarian cancer. My late uncle was a medic and thought that there might be a cancer gene within the family, and so my sister and I both spoke to our gps and were referred to our local breast care centres, who advised us that we may have an increased risk of breast cancer and suggested we both have regular mammograms. The ovarian cancer risk in our family is less, but as cancers go it is rarer and as there is some incidence of it in our family, the doctors we saw today said we could if we wished take part in this national screening programme. The doctors were really keen not to alarm us, so please don't get worried. I feel that if this screening can provide doctors with more information and lead to earlier detection of ovarian cancer then it is probably worth having.

I suppose the best thing would be to speak to your gp about it, and see whether he/she can refer you on- we saw genetic counsellors today.
Hope this helps.

Me and my mum have yearly screening for ovarian cancer as mum's sister died of it very young. Ours is a blood test called CA125 which apparently detects increased levels of something in your blood that can lead to ovarian cancer. However, each year when it comes to the test I usually see a different doctor, each one has an opinion as to whether it is worth screening or not! We were told that we couldn't be part of any of the Studies that were taking place because we had a family history already, apparently, the Studies wanted people that did not have increased family risk. To be honest, I don't even think about the test, or the risks or anything. Apparently, Ovarian cancer usually affects childless people (my Aunt had never had children), and things like being on the Pill or HRT actually can prevent Ovarian Cancer, and the Pill seems as if it offers protection for years after you stop taking it.

My mother died of ovarian cancer aged 50, and her mother had it too and died aged around 70. These were in 1973 and about 1960, I tried to get onto a related screening programme years ago but they needed medical records to confirm the details and they have vanished (scary idea.) (My mother had 3 children, all breastfed, and my grandmother had at least 5, 4 surviving to adulthood - I hadn't heard before that ovarian usually affects childless people , Paula!)

I was screened once for ovarian, the follow-up never materialised; but I originally thought that my grandmother actually died of breast cancer and I have been having annual mammograms for several years, and also had genetic counselling at Christie's.

I am clear of ovarian as far as I know (fingers crossed desperately as it tends to be symptomless) but in Oct 2000 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Don't know if it was the family kind or not. I had a lumpectomy, 6 months of chemo - which I hope would have knocked on the head anything which was lurking elsewhere - and a month of radiotherapy.

Anybody who has the option of being screened - especially for ovarian - should seize the chance, IMHO! I can see that waiting for results would be stressful, and being diagnosed much more so, but you wouldn't want to find out too late if you did have it.

I am most concerned for my brother's 3 daughters (aged 28, 26 and 24) as their other grandmother also died of ovarian cancer at a relatively young age, but as far as I know they are not being screened.

Thanks for your meassages Janh and Paula1. Both my sister and I are going to go ahead with the screening, but it is really helpful to hear from people who have experience of it. Thanks once again. Hope your brother's daughters can get onto a sceening programme Janh.

Having just got back from Spain this thread hit a chord in me. My mam died ten years ago this month from ovarian cancer (she was 42). I went to the hospital about screening but the doctor basically said the test wouldn't do any good as even if it came out positive it doesn't mean I would get it and if it came out negative it doesn't mean that I would get it. The doctors I have spoken to don't seem to think the test or screening is much help. What I tend to do is every so often say I have a pain which feels like I might be getting an ovarian cyst again and can I have a scan and so they send me for an ultrasound scan and I ask them to look in depth explaining about my mam and they're very helpful. It puts my mind at rest anyway. What is very worrying is that ovarian cancer doesn't have many symptoms in the early stages.