Early detection of ovarian cancer thanks to regular blood tests

Regular blood tests can detect up to 86% of ovarian cancers before being diagnosed in the usual way.

Regular blood tests help detect ovarian cancer early

That is the new finding of a group of researchers at University College London published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Photos are for illustrative purposes only.(Source: Alamy)

The team tracked the health status of more than 46,000 women in 14 years. They found that ovarian tumors produced a substance called CA125 and could monitor blood levels of CA125 through an annual blood test.

When this substance starts to rise, suspicious people will be sent for further tests, including ultrasound. As a result, up to 86% of suspected cases were later confirmed to have ovarian cancer.

Professor Usha Menon said that early detection of tumors will help increase the effectiveness of treatment.

The study is part of Britain's largest project for screening for ovarian cancer and a routine ultrasound scan as a screening tool.

According to statistics in the UK, about 7,100 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and 4,200 people die from the disease.