4 Ways to Identify and Prevent Ovarian Cancer

In honor of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to chime in given the many recent innovations to treatments. Ovarian cancer is known as the “silent killer”, yet more and more women are taking action in their healthcare decisions and making sure they are taking the most effective steps towards prevention and if needed, treatment – especially if it runs in their family.

Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 14,000 women will die from the disease in America alone.

1 – Any woman that has ever had an ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer diagnosis, or has family history of any of these diseases, should undergo genetic testing and or counseling that can help them find ways to find targeted, personalized medicines and therapies that will help treat this specific disease.

2 – Did you know that genetic testing no longer focuses on finding and analyzing the most common BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation, but now includes a panel of other genes that increase risk for ovarian cancer, which is why it is critical that, women see genetic counselors or physicians that can help during their testing journey.

3- As personalized medicine becomes more common, it has become much more accessible and affordable. If your insurance company won’t cover costs of testing, be sure to speak with a genetics professional that can help identify programs to help cover the costs.

4- Be sure to consult with not just your physician, but also a team of professionals and genetic professionals especially if you’ve had multiple tests done. These days, the more knowledge you can get from various professionals, the quicker you’ll be able to find the best treatment option.