It is estimated that in 2016 more than 1.6 million women will be diagnosed with invasive cancer in the United States, with an estimated 595,690 deaths.

Ovarian cancer is estimated to contribute 22,280 cases and 14,240 deaths.

In the month of September, Beebe Healthcare, along with Lewes, Georgetown and other towns, have gone teal in an effort to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. September is a great month to schedule your annual exam with your primary care physician or OB/GYN to talk about your health and risks you may have for ovarian cancer.

Between 2008 and 2012, Delaware diagnosed 303 cases of ovarian cancer — 81 percent of those diagnosed were Caucasian. There were 42 African American women diagnosed during the same time period.

Delaware has a slightly lower incidence of ovarian cancer than the national average - 10.8 per 100,000 compared to 12.1 per 100,000 population.

Risk factors

Risk factors for ovarian cancer can be considered modifiable and non-modifiable. Modifiable risk factors can be lifestyle factors or environmental/medical factors such as obesity, never having given birth, high-fat diet, smoking

James E. Spellman MD

and alcohol use, and exposure to talcum powder. These are all lifestyle risk factors that can be manipulated to reduce risk of ovarian cancer. Women who have taken estrogen alone after menopause for more than five years are also at higher risk.

Non-modifiable risk factors are intrinsic to the person and cannot be changed. These include older age, a family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer, as well as a personal history of breast cancer. Inherited mutations in the BRCA genes and other genetic syndromes may also place one at greater risk. Polycystic ovary syndrome, early menstruation or late menopause also can equal a higher risk.

Genetic counseling should be considered in any patient with a strong family history cancer. Patients with noted genetic predisposition can be offered, more frequent screenings, risk reducing surgery, or risk reducing medication. Unfortunately, there is no reliable screening method for ovarian cancer. High-risk individuals can be screened with ultrasound and blood tests.

Women who have had their ovaries removed or had a tubal ligation, who eat a low-fat diet, and have taken birth control pills for more than five years may have a reduced risk. However, those without ovaries may still get ovarian cancer.

Treatment

While the incidence of ovarian cancer in Delaware is decreasing for both Caucasian and African American women, most still are diagnosed after the cancer has become advanced.

Only 12 percent of women are diagnosed during the early stages of cancer, while 67.3 percent are diagnosed after the cancer has already spread to other organs and areas of the body.

While the number of cancers diagnosed early is dropping, the incidence of advanced disease stage diagnosis is rising. For treatment to be successful long term, diagnosing at an early stage is very important.

Surgical intervention is required in most patients. The use of chemotherapy is standard and can be potentially curative in women with early stage ovarian cancer. In women with more advanced stage disease, intra-peritoneal chemotherapy has been shown to work when paired with surgery and intravenous chemotherapy. Two methods of intra-peritoneal chemotherapy are available. One uses a heated solution at the time of surgery. The other method delivers the chemotherapy to the abdominal cavity post-operatively through a catheter.

Outcomes

Outcomes of treatment for ovarian cancer have been positive. In the years 2007-2011, Delaware was ranked 14th in patient mortality for this disease. In the year range 2008-2012, Delaware’s mortality dropped and we are now ranked 26th in the United States.

Mortality rates in Delaware have dropped 17 percent over time, while mortality for the United States has dropped only 13 percent over the same time period.

James E. Spellman, Jr., MD, is a Fellowship-trained surgical oncologist. He is board certified in General Surgery. For more information on Dr. Spellman, contact Beebe Surgical Oncology at (302) 644-0964.