An ovarian cancer research group said that women who are considered low risk for these malignancies still need to consider removing their fallopian tubes when they get pelvic surgeries. If having a pelvic surgery is in the cards for you and children are off the table, then you may want to think about having your fallopian tubes taken out, experts now advise.
There’s no screening available for ovarian cancer right now. Many women don’t get diagnosed until tumors are already in its advanced stages and their odds for survival odds are low. This is why some doctors recommend those with a high genetic risk for ovarian cancer get their fallopian tubes already once they know that getting pregnant isn’t in the future for them.
Now, changes have been made and the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) has also recommended that some lower-risk women consider the procedure as well.
“If a woman at average risk for the disease is done having children and is already having another pelvic surgery, she should speak with her doctor about having her fallopian tubes removed at the same time,” said Audra Moran. She is the president and chief executive officer of OCRA.
“For women who have a strong family history of breast, ovarian, uterine, or colorectal cancer, or a known genetic mutation, they may want to discuss with their doctor more immediate action,” Moran added. OCRA offers free genetic testing to help them assess the risks they have.
Ovarian Cancer and Low Survival Rates
Although ovarian cancer isn’t common, it still ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. More importantly, it is the deadliest form of gynecologic cancer, Moran said. About 20,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed annually, and about 13,000 women die, as per the American Cancer Society (ACS). Less than 50 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive five years.
In most cases, ovarian cancer begins in the fallopian tubes, Moran added. This is true for 70 percent of the most common and most lethal forms of this type of disease.
“Though ovarian cancer is rare, it makes sense to consider removing the tubes, as the tissue that can arise into cancer sits within them,” said Arif Kamal, MD. He is the chief patient officer at the ACS.
Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer
There are several risk factors that come ovarian cancer. This was dictated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These are as follows:
- Aged 50 years or older
- Having a mother, sister, aunt, or grandmother that suffered or died from ovarian cancer
- Personal history of breast, uterine, or colorectal cancer
- Genetic mutation of BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Suffering from endometriosis
- Coming from an Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish background
- Difficulty conceiving
- Have never birthed
For women who are thought to have a few or no risk factors, they can consider removing their fallopian tubes when going through other gynecologic procedures. “Consideration for removal should occur during routine surgeries where largely the uterus or surrounding structures is being surgically manipulated, like during a hysterectomy or procedure to remove uterine fibroids,” said Kamal.
As for those who give birth via cesarean section surgeries can have their fallopian tubes tied, or what is called tubal ligation, to prevent future pregnancies. They may want to think about removing the tubes instead, Moran also explained.
Tubal Ligation Is Not Protection Against Cancer
When getting tubal ligation, the fallopian tubes are cut, tied, or blocked to avoid future pregnancy. Still, the tubes remain inside the body. “While they will no longer allow an egg to pass from the ovaries to the uterus, they can still develop the precursor lesions that can develop into ovarian cancer,” Moran said.
Aside from that, women getting their tubes tied as a stand-alone procedure might want to remove the tubes completely as a way to lower their risk of ovarian cancer, Kamal said.
Some other methods that help lower risk ovarian cancer are taking hormonal birth control pills for five years or longer, breastfeeding for one year or more, and getting surgery to remove the ovaries or a hysterectomy to take out the uterus, according to the CDC.
While surgery always comes with some risks, the new recommendations for fallopian tube removal only poses little, if any, additional risk, said Stephanie Blank, MD. She is a gynecologic oncologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
“If someone is already having surgery, the increased risk with removing the tubes is nominal,” Dr. Blank said. “Because ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed when it has already spread and there are no effective screening tests, in this setting, the potential benefit outweighs the risk even in a relatively rare condition.”
Recommended For You
