FIGO position statement on opportunistic salpingectomy as an ovarian cancer prevention strategy https://tinyurl.com/4db8sj3y The importance of pre-cancerous change in the fallopian tubes as a precursor to ovarian cancer has  led to suggest that removal of the fallopian tubes at the time of other abdominal surgery is  a significant protective measure. Now FIGO ,  (The Internationa l Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) have  issued a position statement saying they firmly support this. Evidence for this position is linked to  pilot studies in Canada which showed significant reduction in subsequent ovarian cancer  rates  when the tubes were removed at the time of hysterectomy, (this is not usual pra ctice).  In addition ,  an Austrian study showed good acceptance of additional surgery .   W hen women facing gallbladder removal were offered tube resection ,  60% accepted .   T he  average increase in operating time was 13...

The impact of inter-cycle treatment delays on overall survival in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer https://tinyurl.com/mrxpksk9 Many patients with ovarian cancer have interruption of their chemo. This may occur because of adverse side effects of treatment,  or  external factors  such as other priorities  and  logistic issues. This interruption may cause anxiety which can be expressed as concern that the chemo is less effective. This retrospective study looked at more than 1500 women with advanced ovarian cancer first diagnosed  during the period 2015-2019. The two-year survival for women who had an  uninterrupted chemo  course was  compared to those whose chemo was unavoidably  disrupted. Disruption is common with 37% having breaks of at least 7 days . No difference in survival was seen in the two groups. Knowledge that chemo is just as effective despite interruption means that factors which affect the patient's quality of l i...

Study Finds Nearly $70 Billion in Socioeconomic Losses Across 11 Countries Attributable to Ovarian Cancer https://tinyurl.com/4spw37yz Ovarian cancer is extremely costly to the individual, the state and the family of each patient. This  study uses a true cost of illness app roach to assess the annual economic burden of each case of ovarian cancer in  high-, middle-, and low-income  countries. Factors included in this determination include cost of treatment , the opportunity cost of loss of productivity for the individual and the carers and t he  often-forgotten  cost of unpaid carer time. The sums are  mind-boggling  with an estimate of almost $70 Billion  total   annual  expenditure and indiv i d ual costs of  up to 120 times the usual health expenditure per capita for low-income countries . Obviously, there  is concern about whether this is sustainable and shows the urgent need to reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer.

Impact of metformin, statins, and beta blockers on survival in patients with primary ovarian cancer: combined analysis of four prospective trials of AGO-OVAR and ENGOT/GCIG collaborators https://tinyurl.com/597m54hb Anecdotal experience has previously suggested that off-label   use of s ome commonplace drugs may improve survival for patients with ovarian cancer . This meta-analysis of 4 prospective  randomised  t rials  looks at the effect of some of these . Data was obtained from the trials which recorded use of the  additional  drug tre atment. The prime purpose of the trial s  having been  assessment of efficacy of the enzyme inhibitor ,  Pazopanib . From the data ,  patients could be subdivided into two groups; those who had received  additio nal  drug therapy and those who had not. Finding from the results show that  use of o f f-label drugs was associated with great er  co-morbidity. Neither metformin  or ...