Many women fail to receive life-saving lymphnode biopsies for ovarian cancer

New research explains that at least 25 percent of women who have ovarian cancer in early stages do not receive sufficient biopsy analysis of lymphnodes with the intention of finding the spread of cancer. Failure to receive this treatment increases death risks by almost 200 percent.

For the research, data from more than 720 women with ovarian cancer were analyzed. In all, only 72 percent of women received biopsies of lymphnodes from the hip and stomach area to determine whether or not cancer had spread.

Survival rates after five years were 15 percent higher for individuals who received lymphnode biopsies when compared to women who did not.

Researchers also discovered that many surgical specialists failed to perform all necessary tests and treatment options for women. However, gynecologic oncologists showed to be much more likely to perform all necessary tests — more than 6 times more likely.

One reason experts suggested that specialists do not perform biopsies for women with ovarian cancer was that some women may be very old or have additional health conditions which may increase risks for complications when performing a lymphnode biopsy.

Researchers explain that unless the biopsy is completely dangerous for a woman, they should be performed, as many of the biopsy treatments have shown to save lives.

The entire study can be found in the Gynecological Oncology journal.