Only 24 percent of ovarian cancers are diagnosed in early stages. However, when detected in Stage I, the disease has a 90 percent survival rate. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation used singly or in combination. Surgery can sometimes be done in a way to preserve fertility when the cancer is caught early, enhancing the benefit of early detection. Chemotherapy may involve using combinations of drugs to prevent resistance to any single drug.
Treatment is similar for the very rare cancer of the fallopian tubes.
These tumor markers, called lysophospholipids, are found in elevated levels in early-stage ovarian cancer. A cytological screening for ovarian cancer is also under development, and may be available as of 2005. The test would involve retrieving cells from the ovaries and examining them for abnormalities. In addition, other recent research has shown promising results using transvaginal ultrasonography to detect early stage cancers. Uterine cancer is the most common form of cancer of the reproductive system with 36,000 cases expected to be diagnosed this year, and an estimated 6,500 deaths to be reported.