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From: Betty.Merriman@cancer.org
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3793] Re: primary peritoneal cancer and the tumor marker CA-125
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Here is what the American Cancer Society's document on ovarian cancer has
to say about primary peritoneal cancer and ovarian cancer screening tests:
"Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma
Primary peritoneal carcinoma, also called extraovarian primary peritoneal
carcinoma (EOPPC) and serous surface papillary carcinoma, is a cancer
closely related to epithelial ovarian cancer. It develops from cells that
line the pelvis or abdomen, which are very similar to epithelial cells on
the surface of the ovaries. Because EOPPC tends to spread along the
surfaces of the pelvis and abdomen, it is often difficult to tell exactly
where the cancer first started. Under a microscope, EOPPC looks just like
epithelial ovarian cancer. Women who have had their ovaries removed can
still develop this type of cancer.
Symptoms of EOPPC are similar to those of ovarian cancer, including
abdominal pain or bloating, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and a change in
bowel habits. Also like ovarian cancer, EOPPC may cause an elevation in the
tumor marker CA-125.
Treatment for women with EOPPC usually includes surgery to remove as much
of the cancer as possible, followed by chemotherapy like that given for
ovarian cancer. Information on prognosis is limited since it is a newly
recognized type of cancer, but early studies suggest that prognosis is
similar to ovarian cancer.
Screening tests for ovarian cancer: Screening tests and examinations are
used to detect a disease, such as cancer, in people who do not have any
symptoms. Women with a high risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer,
such as those with a very strong family history of this disease, may be
screened with transvaginal sonography (an ultrasound test performed with a
small instrument placed in the vagina) and blood tests.
Transvaginal sonography is helpful in finding a mass in the ovary, but it
does not accurately detect which masses are cancers and which are benign
diseases of the ovary.
Blood tests for ovarian cancer may include measuring the amount of CA-125
(also known as OC-125). The amount of this protein in the blood is higher
in many women with ovarian cancer. However, some noncancerous diseases of
the ovaries can also increase the blood levels of CA-125, and some ovarian
cancers may not produce enough CA-125 to cause a positive test result. When
these test results are positive, it may be necessary to do more x-ray
studies or to take samples of fluid from the abdomen or tissue from the
ovaries to find out if a cancer is really present.
In preliminary studies of women at average risk of ovarian cancer, these
screening tests did not lower the number of deaths caused by ovarian
cancer. For this reason, transvaginal sonography and the CA-125 blood test
are not recommended for ovarian cancer screening of women without known
strong risk factors. However, some recent studies found that cancers
detected by these tests tend to be somewhat less advanced than cancers of
women who did not have any screening tests. Ways to improve ovarian cancer
screening tests are being researched. It is hoped that further improvements
will make these tests effective enough to lower the ovarian cancer death
rate."
Betty Merriman, Content Developer: Readability & Translations
American Cancer Society, National Home Office
(404) 329-7655
"Daphen Greenberg"
<epedgg@panther.Gsu. To: Multiple recipients of list
EDU> <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov>
Sent by: cc:
nifl-health@nifl.gov Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3790] primary peritoneal cancer
and the tumor marker CA-125 blood test
10/08/2002 11:55 AM
Please respond to
nifl-health
There has been an email floating around about primary peritoneal cancer and
the tumor marker CA-125 blood test. I am hoping that the medical
professionals on this listserv can shed some insight into this, so that we
can know how to direct our learners. According to the email, one out of
every 55 women will get ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer and it is
urged
that women ask their doctors to run the CA-125 blood test as part of an
annual physical exam. Apparently, this blood test is inexpensive and
simple.
Is there anyone on this listserv who can shed light on this and do you know
of easy to read websites or printed materials that discuss this?
Thanks!
Daphne Greenberg
Georiga State University
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