Ovarian cancer has always been among the most frightening and troublesome of cancers because it does not typically produce symptoms that can be recognized and treated early. Rather, it is more often the case that the disease is not recognized until relatively late, when it is already advanced and more resistant to treatment. Owing to that, it is a particularly deadly cancer for women, with the survival rate five years after diagnosis being only about 30 percent.

A new study conducted by researchers examining nearly 80,000 women who participated in a screening trial is, unfortunately, unable to present positive findings of any type concerning testing, early detection and treatment. It concludes, in fact, that commonplace screening methods actually result in misdiagnosis for many women, coupled with unnecessary treatments and surgeries.

The University of Utah research team, examining data from a National Cancer Institute screening trial, concluded firmly that an annual screening test for ovarian cancer "does not reduce disease-specific mortality in women at average risk for ovarian cancer, but does increase invasive medical procedures and associated harms."

That is decidedly negative news across all fronts. Researchers state that variances in outcome are "not statistically different" for women who undergo yearly screenings and those who simply receive standard care from their doctor and do not test for the disease; the rate of death is closely similar for both groups.

Screenings, though, produce what researchers call "false-positive diagnoses" in about six percent of all women tested. Of the 3,285 women in the study who received a false diagnosis of ovarian cancer, close to one third of them subsequently had unnecessary and invasive surgeries. In many instances, that included removal of one of both of their ovaries.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Related Resource: Los Angeles Times, "Screening for ovarian cancer doesn't reduce tumors or deaths, researchers say" June 5, 2011