Why is ovarian cancer so hard to detect

Ovarian cancer is hard to detect in its early stages due to its vague symptoms. Women may experience constipation, bloating, early satiety after eating and back pain. While ovarian cancer tends to occur in post menopausal women, anyone can be at risk. About 20 percent of all ovarian cancers are caused by a genetic mutation.

These genes also affect a woman's risk of breast cancer. Watch: New hope for ovarian cancer. Over the past two decades, there were few options to treat ovarian cancer other than surgery and chemotherapy. Endometrial cancer is about twice as common—and, no, gynecological cancers do not include breast cancer. But while ovarian cancer is less common than endometrial cancer , it causes far more deaths, according to the U.

National Library of Medicine. In fact, according to Dr. Meanwhile, most cases of endometrial cancers are diagnosed in earlier stages. But research shows that most women with ovarian cancer were seeing their doctor about symptoms for more than six months before they received a diagnosis.

One major reason for the delay: Ovarian cancer develops deep within the lower abdomen, resulting in symptoms that are as non-specific as they get. Zakashansky says, meaning it will only become more difficult to treat successfully. And while other types of cancer spread to various organs like prostate cancer, which often spreads to the lungs , ovarian cancer typically stays within the abdominal cavity, which further delays detection, explains Dr. Another issue? Ultimately, ovarian cancer is diagnosed after an ultrasound or CT scan identifies abnormal growths and either a blood test or biopsy confirms the growth to be cancerous.

Their doctor, Dr. Don't just think, 'Oh, I keep getting a urinary tract infection. We see that commonly. People think, 'Oh, I have a yeast infection again. Or a UTI again. Risk factors for ovarian cancer include age, a family history of breast, ovarian or colorectal cancer, a personal history of breast cancer, and being of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

Never having given birth or giving birth after age 35 also increase risk. Ovarian cancer usually is confirmed through a combination of imaging and blood tests, as well as a biopsy of the tumor.

Current screening includes pelvic exams during regular women's health checkups, but early ovarian tumors are not easy to feel. Pap tests, or human papillomavirus tests, designed to detect cervical cancer also are sometimes used, but they rarely detect ovarian cancer.

And when they do, it is usually at an advanced stage. A test being developed by Penn Medicine, however, offers hope that screening for ovarian cancer could become easier. It analyzes vapors coming from blood samples.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning allows a so-called "electronic nose" to identify the volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, emanating off the cells in blood plasma samples using nanosensors.

VOCs are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Charlie Johnson, a physics and astronomy professor, said earlier this year. If developed appropriately for the clinical setting, this could potentially be a test that's done on a standard blood draw that may be part of your annual physical. Tracey Romero PhillyVoice Staff.

Women's Health.