Jewish General Hospital - Press releases

2012/08/31

National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

JGH doctors working on early detection methods that could help save lives

More than 2600 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in Canada, and 1,750 of those succumb to the disease. However, if detected early, the survival rate can jump to 90 per cent. Unlike breast and cervical cancer, there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer. While efforts are underway to discover a method of early detection, doctors press that awareness of the symptoms and risk factors for ovarian cancer is critically important.

While doctors in this day and age can test for most ailments, one disease that remains elusive is ovarian cancer. Known as the “silent killer”, symptoms of ovarian cancer are subtle and hard to pinpoint as they often mimic more prevalent digestive and gastrointestinal disorders. Researchers at the JGH are aiming to look into the disease in a different light, however.

“The focus of our research has not been on the symptoms, rather it has been to identify markers in patients that will develop cancer,” explains Dr. Walter Gotlieb, JGH Director of Gynecologic Oncology and Colposcopy. “What we are striving to do is discover an early detection method that could provide us with the ability to locate those at risk of the disease and treat them early, thus increasing the woman’s chances of survival.”

“In the past, screening for ovarian cancer has been limited to blood tests and ultrasounds, and while these do provide some early detection, we have found that this does not always provide enough advanced warning,” says Dr. Joshua Press, a gynecologic-oncologist in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the JGH. “What we are working towards is identifying new markers, so that a test similar to a PAP test or a colonoscopy can be used to detect which patient has the potential to develop ovarian cancer in her future.”

Women should still be aware of what their bodies tell them, continues Dr. Gotlieb, since symptom detection can help save lives. Some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal discomfort, pressure or pain, abdominal swelling, indigestion, gas, or upset stomach, nausea, fatigue and more frequent urination. It is recommended that if these symptoms increase in intensity or severity or last longer than 2 to 3 weeks, you should contact your doctor.

Ovarian cancer awareness month, supported by Ovarian Cancer Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society, sets out to create awareness about ovarian cancer across Canada – reaching communities, corporations and individuals across the country to communicate, foster and increase ovarian cancer awareness among women, healthcare professionals and the general public across Canada.

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Contact:

Glenn J. Nashen, Director
Astrid Morin, Media Relations
Public Affairs and Communications
Jewish General Hospital
Tel.: 514-340-8222 ext. 4612
Email: amorin@jgh.mcgill.ca
Website: jgh.ca