FDA Warns Against Ovarian Cancer Screening Tests

By Stacy SimonThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting women and their medical care providers to the risks of using tests that are marketed as screening tests for ovarian cancer. The FDA says these tests should not be used because they have a high number of false results.Screening tests look for cancer in people who don’t have any symptoms. For some cancer types, screening tests are available that can find cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. Some tests can even find growths and remove them before they have a chance to turn into cancer. But there are no reliable screening tests yet that can find ovarian cancer.The FDA has issued a safety communication that warns of risks associated with the use of tests that claim they can screen for ovarian cancer. It says women and their doctors may be misled by the claims and make treatment decisions that rely on inaccurate test results.Some women may get test results that suggest they have ovarian cancer, even when no cancer is present. This is called a false-positive. This may lead to unneeded medical tests and even surgery, which carry risks. Some women may get test results that say they don’t have ovarian cancer, even though they do. This is called a false-negative. This may prevent women from getting the care they need to treat the cancer.The safety communication includes a special warning for women with an increased risk for ovarian cancer due to family history or certain gene mutations. The FDA say...
Source: American Cancer Society :: News and Features - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Ovarian Cancer Source Type: news