JAMA Clinical Reviews Ovarian Cancer: Clinical Risk Factors and Treatment
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Jul 21, 2025 William Cliby and John Weroha, both experts from the Mayo Clinic, dive into the complexities of ovarian cancer. They discuss the importance of recognizing nonspecific symptoms that often delay diagnosis and the critical role of clinical judgment in early detection. Preventive strategies like surgeries for those with a family history are emphasized, alongside challenges in current screening methods. They also highlight advancements in treatment options, such as PARP inhibitors, which enhance survival rates for patients facing this disease.
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Ovarian Cancer Risk Insight
- Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women, with high mortality rates similar to pancreatic cancer.
- About 25% of patients have a genetic or familial risk factor; most present without known risk factors.
Prevention Through Family History
- Take a brief family history to identify women at high risk for ovarian cancer due to familial cancers.
- For high-risk women, removing the tubes and ovaries significantly reduces cancer risk from up to 80% to about 5%.
No Reliable Screening Yet
- Currently, no effective screening tests exist for ovarian cancer despite attempts using CA-125 and ultrasounds.
- Clinicians should rely on patient symptoms and remain aware of ongoing research into future screening methods.