Early detection markers for ovarian cancer offered by Manchester Gynaecologist

The risk factors that change a woman's likelihood of developing ovarian cancer include: chronological age (mostly after the menopause), obesity, obstetric history (pregnancy lowers the risk), some hormone treatments, personal medical history of breast cancer, family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
To date, the most used diagnostic test for ovarian cancer is the CA 125. This marker is widely used in gynaecology practice to detect disease as well as to assess response to treatment and disease recurrence in women with epithelial ovarian cancer. Nevertheless it suffers from some limitations for its ability to differentiate women with early stage ovarian cancer from those having other gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis. Further, up to 20% of ovarian cancers lack expression of CA 125.

A new marker for ovarian cancer is the HE4. Healthy ovarian tissue has minimal production of HE4. The combination of this marker with measurements of CA 125 significantly reduces the risk of missing ovarian cancer.

In addition to the biochemistry investigations, the ultrasound scan of the pelvis represents an extremely useful initial diagnostic test to request in women with a family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer and in those with clinical suspicion of ovarian cancer.

At GyneHealth Manchester we now offer ovarian cancer screening, which includes a consultation with a consultant gynaecologist, 3D ultrasound scan of the pelvic organs (ovaries and uterus) and blood test for CA 125 and HE4.