Increased blood testing could improve ovarian cancer survival rate

Gynaecological cancers are not common, particularly in the UK. If we add all the gynaecological cancers that occur each year together, they account for less than half of the cases of breast cancer. However, women may be concerned about the possibility of gynaecological cancers because, unlike breast cancer, the gynaecological organs are not easily visible. It is therefore important for women to be aware of the various screeningA way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to programmes for gynaecological cancers that exist and to also be aware of the symptoms so that the disease can be detected early where full cure is usually possible.

Endometrial cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. is cancer of the lining of the wombThe uterus. and it is the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK. It is most common in post-menopausalAfter the menopause - technically only once a woman has had no menstrual period for one year. women aged 50 to 60 years, although approximately 7% of cases are in younger women.

Endometrial cancer is much more common among women who live in the developing world, particularly Europe and North America compared with women who live in less developed countries. This is likely to be because endometrialRelating to the endometrium. cancer is linked to obesityExcess accumulation of fat in the body., with obese women three times as likely to get this disease as women who have a body weight in the healthy range. A healthy balanced diet and an active lifestyle can help to reduce the risk of this cancer.

Introduction

To most people a standard pathology laboratory list of results is more akin to an Egyptian obelisk than anything actually meaningful or useful i.e. four columns of hieroglyphics! It is therefore useful to have our own plain English equivalent of the Rosetta Stone in order to translate some of the pathological hieroglyphs, and that is the purpose of this article.

Maintaining bloodA fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid. glucoseA simple sugar that is an important source of energy in the body. levels at the right level is crucial to health; abnormally high or low glucose sugar levels are dangerous and if very severe can put a person into a coma.  The normal healthy body copes with the daily demands by producing higher or lower amounts of insulinA hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas that acts to lower blood glucose levels. to either rapidly metaboliseTo break down or process substances in the body. excess sugar, or reduce the rate at which it is taken from the blood stream. For people with diabetesA disorder caused by insufficient or absent production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas, or because the tissues are resistant to the effects., this finely controlled feedback mechanism no longer works properly which is why measurements of glucose levels is so important.