Ovarian Cancer Difficult To Detect Early

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Ovarian cancer may be the most misunderstood form of cancer.

The first problem. Many women think they don't have to worry about ovarian cancer because they've had a normal pap test. But the pap test is not an early detection test for ovarian cancer. The pap screens for malignant and pre-cancerous cells in the cervix, not the ovary.

Then there is the fact that scientists have yet to find a test that can pick up most early cases. In fact, nearly three of four ovarian cancers aren't diagnosed until they have spread beyond the ovaries. That makes the disease the fourth leading cancer killer of all US women.

Symptoms are usually vague, like stomach bloating and fatigue. They can be confused with other common problems.