Key Summary
- Age-based blood test thresholds could spot ovarian cancer earlier
- Older women at higher risk get urgent checks sooner
- Fewer unnecessary scans, better use of NHS resources
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said that the one-size-fits-all type of blood tests is ineffective in detecting ovarian cancer, and the risk changes as women get older.
The new suggestion states that personalised, age-based blood test thresholds help in early identification of ovarian cancer.
“The committee’s proposed recommendations will ensure more personalised, targeted testing, so women at greatest risk of ovarian cancer are identified and referred sooner,” said Eric Power, deputy director, Centre for Guidelines.
Nearly 7,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually.
The disease is not easy to recognise as symptoms such as bloating or abdominal pain overlap with other conditions.
Usually, ovarian cancer is detected through the CA125 blood test that measures protein levels in the blood, with higher levels indicating increased cancer risk.
At present, every woman with a 35 IU/ml or above CA125 level has to undergo examination irrespective of their age.
However, this practice has the potential to waste time examining healthy younger people, while they are missing out on sick older women.
“This tailored approach will mean GPs can make more informed decisions about which patients need urgent investigation, while reducing unnecessary ultrasound scans, freeing up NHS resources,” said Eric Power.
So, through a draft update of NICE’s guideline on suspected cancer, it proposes new thresholds for women in the CA125 blood test as they grow older.
This recommendation explains that women above forty cannot depend on these blood tests alone to determine their condition.
Women of this age group are advised to undergo an ultrasound scan under their GP’s observation.
It helps GPs and other primary care professionals to decide on the transferring of specific cancer treatments to specialists.
NICE’s new update states that there should be a new age threshold for people who are sixty years and above with unexplained weight loss (more than 5 per cent in over six months). They must undergo an immediate examination.
The guideline also highlights the growing demand for accurate evidence on when unexpected bleeding while on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) should be checked for endometrial cancer.
NICE’s guideline committee guarantees that the research regarding this will help to fill this gap and guides the clinicians to make well-informed decisions.
Eric said these updates “will ensure that our guideline reflects the latest evidence and will help improve the detection of cancer and ensure those who need it get swift treatment.”
