Blood test spots ovarian cancer

A BLOOD test every four months could help spot ovarian cancer in women who are highly susceptible to the disease, researchers say.

Women with high genetic risk, such as Angelina Jolie who carries a mutated BRCA gene, are advised to have there ovaries removed. Nearly 4,000 a year do so in the UK, but many rule out the operation which makes them infertile.

A study led by University College London shows testing these women every four months is a safe way of catching cancer early. Researchers stressed surgery is the safest option, but found a blood test for protein CA 125 spots nine in ten cases before the cancer spreads.

The study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology tested 4,000 women with more than a 10 per cent risk.

Co-author Professor Usha Menon said for high-risk women not having surgery, the test ‘may be a better option than the NHS practice of symptom awareness and ad hoc annual screening’.