Doctors are now advising more women to have their fallopian tubes removed to prevent ovarian cancer.
The removal of a woman’s fallopian tubes, also known as a salpingectomy, is usually performed as a form of permanent birth control, as well as to treat conditions such as ectopic pregnancy or endometriosis.
However, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance has released updated guidelines, encouraging women who have finished having children and are “already having pelvic surgery” for another condition to have their fallopian tubes removed as a measure. protective against ovarian cancer.
“As the fallopian tube is the origin of most high-grade serous cancers, removal of the fallopian tubes has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of a later diagnosis of ovarian cancer,” explained the organization.
The fallopian tubes are used to bring an egg from the ovaries to the uterus when a woman becomes pregnant.
Doctors are now advising women to have their fallopian tubes removed to avoid ovarian cancer (stock image)
The suggestion to have them removed as a preventive measure to avoid ovarian cancer came after a clinical trial by the UKCTOCS found that unlike other forms of cancers, the early detection of the disease is not directly related to its survival rate.
“In addition to finding that screening women at average risk does not reduce ovarian cancer mortality, the trial found that in many women, identifying their cancer as stage I or stage II n ‘had no bearing on their mortality,” the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance revealed.
“Detecting it at an early stage was not enough to prevent them from dying from the disease and did not extend their lives.
“Equally paradoxically, the same study showed that some women (although a minority of women) diagnosed at an advanced stage did very well.
“Their late-stage diagnosis did not condemn them to a poor prognosis, because there was something about their cancer that was less aggressive, and their positive result would have happened whether it was diagnosed earlier or later. .
“It is clear that for early detection to significantly improve outcomes, new, as yet undiscovered methods will need to be developed so that cancer can be discovered much earlier for people with the most aggressive ovarian cancer.”
According to the American Cancer Society, 19,710 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and 13,000 die from it each year.
A gynecologic oncologist at NYU Langone named Bhavana Pothuri told the Washington Post that the procedure is “simple” and “doesn’t affect your hormonal function.”
During the operation, doctors will make an incision in the abdomen to remove the tubes, but this can also be done laparoscopically, which means the surgeon will make a much smaller incision and use an instrument similar to tweezers to perform the operation. .
However, the procedure has a long recovery time – it can take up to three weeks to return to normal – and HealthDirect.gov pointed out that there are serious risks associated with the surgery, including infection, damage to nearby organs, and excessive bleeding.
The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance has encouraged women who have finished having children and are ‘already having pelvic surgery’ to have their fallopian tubes removed (stock image)
It also comes at a steep price, as MedicineNet.com said it can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $100,000 depending on your insurance.
It’s unclear whether or not insurance would cover the procedure for women who aren’t considered high risk but are having it to prevent ovarian cancer.
Karen H. Lu – who is in the department of gynecological oncology and reproductive medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center – told the Washington Post that this could be an effective way to prevent breast cancer. ovary because most of the time it starts in the fallopian tubes.
Rebecca Lynn Stone, a gynecologic oncology surgeon, echoed those sentiments to Hopkins Medicine, explaining, “Salpingectomy reduces the risk of ovarian cancer in all people.
“It is essential to understand that [even] people who are at average risk of ovarian cancer (those who are not known to have hereditary risk) are eligible for salpingectomy for the prevention of ovarian cancer once they have finished childbearing.
Currently, the procedure is only recommended for those who are already having pelvic surgery for something else, such as a hysterectomy, tubal ligations, cyst removal, or endometriosis.
The suggestion comes amid growing concerns about the rise of a ‘surgery first’ attitude across America.
Last month, pediatricians began advising obese children as young as 13 to undergo bariatric surgery, along with weight-loss drugs.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announced in early January that it now formally opposes the long-standing practice of “watchful waiting” or delaying treatment to see if young people grow or overcome obesity. by themselves.
Medical interventions should be used in addition to intensive diet, exercise and other behavioral and lifestyle interventions, said Dr. Eneli, director of the Nationwide Children´s Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition. s Hospital.
