Black Women, Uninsured Get Worse Ovarian Cancer Care: Study

Women with ovarian cancer who are black, either uninsured or Medicare recipients, or who have annual incomes of less than $35,000 are more likely to receive poorer-quality care, a new study shows.
Researchers found these racial and socioeconomic disparities in ovarian cancer care also are associated with worse odds of surviving for five years after their cancer diagnosis.

The study examined more than 47,000 women treated for ovarian cancer between 1998 and 2002. Fewer than half of the women (44 percent) received treatment that fit within guidelines developed by a group of the top cancer centers in the world and recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Black women, women who were uninsured or on Medicare and women of lower socioeconomic status were less likely than other women to receive the recommended treatment.

Recurrent ovarian cancer

Once your treatment is complete and there is a remission (absence of cancer symptoms; also called “no evidence of disease” or NED), talk with your doctor about the possibility of the cancer returning. Many survivors feel worried or anxious that the cancer will come back. Learn more about coping with this fear.

If the cancer does return after the original treatment, it is called recurrent cancer. It may come back in the same place (called a local recurrence), nearby (regional recurrence), or in another place (distant recurrence).

When this occurs, a cycle of testing will begin again to learn as much as possible about the recurrence. After testing is done, you and your doctor will talk about your treatment options. Often the treatment plan will include the therapies described above (such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy) but may be used in a different combination or given at a different pace. Your doctor may also suggest clinical trials that are studying new ways to treat this type of recurrent cancer.

The symptoms of recurrent ovarian cancer are similar to those experienced when the disease was first diagnosed. The four of the most common symptoms are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency). However, other symptoms may include persistent indigestion, gas, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation; unexplained weight loss or gain, especially in the abdominal area; abnormal bleeding from the vagina; pain during intercourse; fatigue; and lower back pain.

Doctors can also monitor ovarian cancer recurrence by measuring the level of CA-125 in the blood. CA-125 is a cancer antigen, or a substance that is found in higher levels on the surface of ovarian cancer cells.

People with recurrent cancer often experience emotions such as disbelief or fear. Patients are encouraged to talk with their health care team about these feelings and ask about support services to help them cope.