New Screening Tool for Ovarian Cancer and Other Gynecological Cancers

Melissa, K. Frey, MD, a gynecological oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, discusses the study of adequate collection of family cancer history in ovarian and other gynecological cancers in order to determine cancer risk and early interventions.

According to Frey, the control group, which is where patients discussed their family cancer history with their gynecologist at their appointment, 0% of patients had collection of an adequate family cancer history. For patients who used a web-based tool via email to report family cancer history, 38% had a collection of an adequate family cancer history. When the web-based tool was used in the office, 43% had an adequate collection of family cancer history.

While there was a significant improvement using the web-based tool, less than half of patients had an adequate collection of family cancer history. According to Frey, the main driver of this discrepancy was the lack of information on family member’s cancers. Patients should be encouraged to speak with their family members.