February 10, 2023 – All women who've finished having children should consider having their fallopian tubes removed if one other pelvic procedure is planned to cut back their risk of developing ovarian cancer – even in the event that they are usually not at increased risk of the deadly disease, a number one research organization advises.
Doctors currently recommend that girls with a high genetic risk of ovarian cancer have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed after giving birth to their children.
In a brand new statement, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance is now encouraging all women – even those and not using a genetic mutation – to have their fallopian tubes removed as a part of a planned gynecological surgery.
There is increasing evidence that many ovarian cancers originate within the fallopian tubes, and that the danger of later diagnosis will be dramatically reduced by removing the fallopian tubes, the organization said.
The latest advice replaces the decades-old give attention to symptom awareness and early detection of ovarian cancer through screening.
It follows a “sobering and deeply disappointing” study that showed that regular screening for ovarian cancer with blood tests and ultrasounds doesn't save lives, the organization said. (This was the British joint trial for early detection of ovarian cancer published within the journal The Lancet in June 2021).
The results of this study are “very difficult to accept,” said Audra Moran, president and CEO of OCRA, in an interview.
“We have a duty to inform people that awareness of symptoms and early detection do not save lives,” but preventive tube removal “definitely does,” says Moran.
This advice is “r“It makes sense and makes sense,” says Stephanie V. Blank, MD, president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology and director of gynecologic oncology at Mount Sinai Health System in New York.
And that's actually nothing new, she says. A few years ago, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology said that removing the fallopian tubes could be an “appropriate and feasible” strategy to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.
Because of the disappointing screening study, “it’s now getting new attention,” Blank says.
It is important to note that the recommendation applies to women who are already scheduled to undergo another pelvic surgery for a benign condition, such as a hysterectomy for fibroids. There is currently no recommendation to have the fallopian tubes removed as a standalone procedure.
Deanna Gerber, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center-Long Island, says women should be aware that research is still being conducted on this topic, “but this low-risk procedure may reduce your risk of developing ovarian or fallopian tube cancer.”
As a part of its latest campaign, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance can also be encouraging women to know their personal risk of ovarian cancer. The group has launched a pilot program that gives free at-home genetic testing for individuals who have, or have a family history of, breast, ovarian, uterine or colon cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading reason behind cancer deaths amongst women within the United States and causes more deaths than another gynecological cancer.
Symptoms are sometimes subtle, making ovarian cancer difficult to detect in its early stages. Common symptoms include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and frequent urination.