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[Rowan]

This not new there was a report in 2007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6567847.stm

My next door neighbour died on ovarian cancer a few years ago, she didn't know she had it and they couldn't save her, it shocked me as she always seemed so fit, her daughter told me she had used HRT but had stopped it.

I think there is genetic link.

[Millykin]

It is the silent killer they say. My aunt in law died of it, no HRT involved. No symptoms. She never once went for a smear test though which could have picked something up I think?
Probably will be a genetic link in some as with breast. It's just one of those things, we make the choice, and they will never have full proof because we can't live twice and try both ways, one life with one life without

[honorsmum]

It is the silent killer they say. My aunt in law died of it, no HRT involved. No symptoms. She never once went for a smear test though which could have picked something up I think?
Probably will be a genetic link in some as with breast. It's just one of those things, we make the choice, and they will never have full proof because we can't live twice and try both ways, one life with one life without

A smear test will only show changes to the cervix, not ovaries.
My next door neighbour died from it too. Very sad - she lost her only child to still birth and never really recovered, emotionally, I understand. Because she had suffered health anxiety for years, the doctors ignore her when she complained of her abdomen swelling. When they finally sent her to hospital, she was riddled with it. 

[Millykin]

Oh so sad Honorsmum.
Oh I take it that's why Hurdity said a scan for uterus and ovaries should be routine in over 50s. Ye makes sense.

[honorsmum]

Yes, there is the CA125 marker blood test to ovarian cancer, but it is not accurate enough to be used for screening.

[CLKD]

Quality of Life ladies 

Thanks Dr Currie and Emma. 

This morning J Vine had a woman who told listeners that she had taken HRT because of really bad flushes which interfered with her business life, I think she was about 55 when she stopped but the flushes began again: however, she apparently developed breast cancer which she 'cured herself by taking natural supplements' and felt that women should not be subjected to chemicals.  Surely menopause is 'natural' but she had told us that she HAD to take HRT to stop the flushes  ……. I switched the radio off.

[Millykin]

Don't blame you CLKD
X

[CLKD]

I believe that the CA125 marker is used ……… Ovacome web-site has more details.  It is the silent killer because there are not many symptoms until it is advanced. 

Onwards and upwards.  Quality of Life, encouraging our GPs to listen  , keeping notes of how we feel and when ……… adding our experiences to Forums …….

[Annitxu]

Take a look at the full article in the Lancet- it's on the internet and in particular the appendix http://www.thelancet.com/cms/attachment/2025437254/2044917101/mmc1.pdf
This gives some information regarding the studies from which this paper drew it's conclusions. It would appear that the studies are from many years ago-when as we know doses/ type of oestrogen were very different from that used by most women in the UK today. In particular, I noticed that the mean age of ovarian cancer diagnosis was 1999 (16 years ago) . This paper is not original research but just an analysis of outdated publications.

 

[CLKD]

Often happens.  I don't worry until my GP or Consultant telephones me to say 'come in for a chat' 

[Dancinggirl]

Such good posts everyone - it's good to discuss this.  What a shame that many women won't know how to interpret these findings and put them into perspective.
I do agree with Hurdity - the need for Well Women Clinics all around the country is very great. I used to go to the Marie Stopes Clinic in London when I was young and it was great.    Well Women clinics could save the NHS a lot of money as fewer women would be bothering their GPs (who are often ill informed anyway) and end up being referred to a specialist.
DG x

[honorsmum]

I believe that the CA125 marker is used ……… Ovacome web-site has more details.  It is the silent killer because there are not many symptoms until it is advanced. 

Onwards and upwards.  Quality of Life, encouraging our GPs to listen  , keeping notes of how we feel and when ……… adding our experiences to Forums …….

The trouble with the CA125 test is that it can be raised for reasons other than ovarian cancer AND a normal level doesn't rule out cancer if it's in its early stages.
I had the test recently and my GP told me not to panic if it came back raised...while saying she would, if it were her!

[tiger74]

It is the silent killer they say. My aunt in law died of it, no HRT involved. No symptoms. She never once went for a smear test though which could have picked something up I think?
 

I concur with other postings - smear tests have absolutely nothing to do with screening for ovarian cancer.  At present there is no widely-available test accurate enough to be used routinely to screen for ovarian cancer (under NHS in UK).  That's partly why I had a prophylactic BSO (having undergone genetic testing and lost an aunt to this disease).  BSO reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by a high percentage, albeit not 100%.
 

[Melbury]

I heard GP this morning saying the headlines were screaming that taking HRT increases a woman's chances of getting ovarian cancer by 50%, but that wasn't really the true picture.  In fact 1 in 1000 women will develop it regardless and HRT increases the risk to 2 in 1000.

Why oh why do the news people / newspaper headlines have to scare people so much?

Also, there was no information at all about which types of HRT - i.e. tablets, patches, gel, oestrogen only or progesterone and oestrogen - are they all bad?

[Millykin]

Yes I was unsure tiger that's why I put question mark. Hoping someone would put me right.x