Unmasking Ovarian Cancer: Liquid Biopsy’s Sneak Peek Inside

WE DO NOT HAVE A GOOD OVARIAN CANCER SCREENING TOOL. Researchers recently reported an ovarian cancer detection breakthrough. Unmasking ovarian cancer: liquid biopsy’s sneak peek inside....CONTINUE READING

As a doctor who helps those with cancer, I am always interested in new approaches that promise better disease management.

Now, a new blood test appears to distinguish between cancerous and benign pelvic masses. This breakthrough is our focus today.

First, a nod to Saturday Night Live former cast member and comedienne Gilda Radner. She had about ten months of testing and several misdiagnoses before being discovered to have ovarian cancer in 1986.
Radner as Roseanne Roseannadanna in 1980. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilda_Radner.

In her memory, this comedienne’s husband established Gilda’s Club in 1991. The organization provided emotional and social support to patients with cancer, their families, and friends.

Gilda’s Club merged with The Wellness Community to form the Cancer Support Community, the USA’s largest cancer support network.

The legacy of Gilda Radner is extraordinarily inspiring to me. Let’s examine some basic facts about ovarian cancer before looking at the recent encouraging research findings.
Ovarian Cancer Numbers

Here are the numbers, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute Survey, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database:

New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The number of new cases of ovarian cancer is ten per 100,000 women per year. The death rate is six per 100,000 women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2016–2020 cases and deaths.
Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately one in 100 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer sometime during their lifetime.
Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2020, an estimated…