Ovarian cancer
The UK NSC policy on Ovarian cancer screening in women
More Information
The ovaries are a pair of small organs in the female reproductive system that contain and release an egg once a month. This is known as ovulation. Cancer of the ovary can spread to other parts of the reproductive system and the surrounding areas, including the womb (uterus), vagina and stomach (abdomen).
Image © Clinical Skills Ltd and provided courtesy of Cancerbackup.
» Read more about ovarian cancer on NHS Choices
» Read more about ovarian cancer on Cancerbackup
Policy Position
Screening should not be offered except in the context of the MRC randomised controlled trial.
At its 16 June 2010 meeting the UK NSC agreed that screening for ovarian cancer will be reviewed against its criteria following the publication of the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening or earlier if any new significant peer reviewed evidence emerges in the meantime.
This policy was reviewed in Jul 2006 and significant changes were made. It is due to be considered again in 2015/16, or earlier if significant new evidence emerges.
Evidence Supporting the Policy
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has funded a RCT of ovarian cancer screening. No screening should take place outside this trial.
Some services are offering a screening service to people deemed to be at "high risk", but with no agreement about the criteria used to assess risk. No-one outside the context of the MRC trial should be offered screening because they are deemed to be at a high risk, unless the offer is made in the context of a peer reviewed and ethically approved trial.
The UK NSC organised a workshop on the use of family history or genetic markers to identify a high risk group and made recommendations to the UK National Screening Committee at its meeting on 13 June 2001, based on a report of the workshop. They concluded that there is no evidence to support the introduction of a population-screening programme designed to identify people at high risk of breast or ovarian cancer, either based on asking people if they have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer or by offering a blood test for genetic mutations.
Stakeholders
The British Association for Cancer Research
British Association of Surgical Oncology
Cancer Research UK
Ovacome
Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Royal College of Surgeons
The stakeholder groups will be involved when the policy is next reviewed. If you think your organisation should be added, please contact us.
