HEALTH

A new chance for a fighting chance against ovarian cancer

Sep 27, 2022, 4:30 PM | Updated: 5:52 pm
ovarian cancer...
The Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Jordan Allred/Deseret News)
(Jordan Allred/Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — The Huntsman Cancer Institute is testing a way to stop deaths from ovarian cancer.

“Without having good screening, what we’re really faced against is trying to see if we can diagnose it earlier, and if we can’t, coming up with better treatments than the ones we’ve had for the past couple decades,” said Dr. Theresa Werner, Senior Director of Clinical Research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Werner joined KSL NewsRadio’s Dave and Dujanovic this week to talk about their efforts.

This year, and every year, nearly 13,000 women will die of ovarian cancer. The American Cancer Society says that an American woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer is one in 78.

Out of all of the possibilities, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says it is the second most common gynecological cancer in the U.S. There is no screening for this type of cancer.

What may be most alarming about ovarian cancer is that the symptoms are there, but they are quiet and can be mistaken for something else. Those symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, and cramping.

A new class of medicine

One of the new treatments for ovarian cancer is a PARP inhibitor.

“It’s an oral medication that’s much more targeted than chemotherapies,” Werner said. “What we’re doing in cancer research is trying to find more targeted treatments that are really specific for certain types of cancers.”

Werner said researchers have been testing these types of inhibitors for a decade. Subjects generally include women who had ovarian cancer in the past and who are experiencing a relapse. Werner said that a PARP inhibitor has been helpful in this instance, and because of that success, they’re now testing the drug earlier.

“The consensus data really shows that women who were able to take these medications after chemotherapy are living longer and going a longer time before their cancer (comes) back,” Werner said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several PARP inhibitors. Werner said they are usually prescribed for two years after a patient’s initial cancer has gone into remission. The inhibitors can be prescribed for longer periods of time for women who are experiencing a recurrence of ovarian cancer.

Related reading:

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

Health

An off-duty pilot stepped in to help after a Southwest pilot became ill during a flight, the airlin...
Pete Muntean, CNN

Off-duty pilot on Southwest flight steps in to help after pilot suffers in-flight medical emergency

 (CNN) — An off-duty pilot who was a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight stepped in to help the flight crew after one of the on-duty pilots had a medical emergency mid-flight. The incident began not long after Flight 6013 to Columbus, Ohio, took off from Las Vegas Wednesday, Southwest Airlines said. One of the […]
6 hours ago
homelessness...
Curt Gresseth

Mother tells of her escape from addiction and being homeless

A homeless mother describes her spiral into addiction and how she climbed out and is helping other homeless people today.
1 day ago
FILE - President Joe Biden speaks about health care and prescription drug costs at the University o...
Jeremy Diamond, CNN

White House to disband Covid-19 response team in May

(CNN) — The White House will disband its coronavirus response team after the Covid-19 public health emergency ends in May, a current and former official said. The team, led most recently by Dr. Ashish Jha, has begun to dwindle in recent months as the administration has started to shift its response to the virus from […]
1 day ago
medicaid...
Elizabeth Weiler

It’s time to re-enroll for Medicaid for the first time since before the pandemic

For the Beehive state beginning next month, for those applicable, Medicaid re-enrollment will be required.
3 days ago
Jason Sudeikis attends the Apple Original Series "Ted Lasso" Season 3 Red Carpet Premiere at Westwo...
Arlette Saenz, CNN

‘Ted Lasso’ cast will meet with President Biden for mental health discussion

A White House official said the meeting will focus on discussing "the importance of addressing your mental health to promote overall wellbeing."
4 days ago
(Canva)...
Michelle Lee

Beating the Monday blues and the Sunday scaries

One expert said that Mondays have a cultural implication about "getting back to the grind" and that’s why it often impacts our mood.
5 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...
BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.
Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....
Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a new winter activity? Try skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.
Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...
Intermountain Health

Five common causes of Cervical Cancer – and what you can do to lower your risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.
Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...
Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.
happy friends with sparklers at christmas dinner...
Macey's

15 easy Christmas dinner ideas

We’ve scoured the web for you and narrowed down a few of our favorite Christmas dinner ideas to make your planning easy.
Spicy Homemade Loaded Taters Tots...
Macey's

5 Game Day Snacks for the Whole Family (with recipes!)

Try these game day snacks to make watching football at home with your family feel like a special occasion. 
A new chance for a fighting chance against ovarian cancer