Ovarian cancer screening
3.34 Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths in women in this country, causing 4,500 deaths each year.
Only 25% of women survive five or more years after diagnosis. This is largely because symptoms are rarely evident until the disease is at an advanced stage. There are two possible techniques for screening for ovarian cancer - trans-vaginal ultrasound and a blood test for a cancer antigen. Women who test positive will not necessarily have cancer. Further assessment is required, including abdominal surgery under general anaesthetic, with the associated risks.
3.35 The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme has undertaken a systematic review of the evidence for introducing ovarian screening. It concluded that insufficient evidence was available to reach a firm conclusion. Three randomised control trials are underway which should provide an estimate of the effectiveness of screening on mortality but evidence is unlikely to be available before 2003. The HTA will then re-evaluate the evidence.
3.36 A further trial being funded by the MRC, Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund is examining the effectiveness of different screening technologies. This trial will report in 2010. The Department of Health will provide the NHS costs for this project.
3.37 The government will introduce ovarian cancer screening as and when research demonstrates that screening is appropriate and cost effective.
