Researchers say one in four people with the most lethal form of the cancer could have an early diagnosis if tests are carried out Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters One in four women with the deadliest strain of ovarian cancer could have their condition detected early by being tested and fast-tracked for specialist care. Those diagnosed at an advanced stage face just a 13% survival outlook. Contrastingly, those whose cancer is discovered during stage one or two stand a 93% chance of living beyond the next five years.
Moreover, individuals diagnosed before the cancer spreads typically undergo "relatively straightforward" surgery to remove it, according to experts. A team of researchers examining the illness hope their insights will spur GPs to assess patients presenting symptoms and swiftly refer them for specialised treatment. While there is no nationwide screening initiative in the UK for ovarian cancer, there has been "symptom-triggered testing" available since 2011.
Under current protocols, women with symptoms like bloating, changes in bowel habits, altered appetite, or abdominal discomfort should rapidly be assessed through blood work and ultrasound imaging. If results reveal anomalies, they should receive hospital admission within a fortnight. But Professor Sudha Sundar, based at the Pan.