{"id":51303,"date":"2026-07-21T15:21:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T15:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=51303"},"modified":"2026-07-21T15:21:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T15:21:25","slug":"ads-call-ovarian-cancer-a-silent-killer-but-does-urging-women-to-undergo-early-detection-testing-do-more-harm-than-good-melissa-davey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=51303","title":{"rendered":"Ads call ovarian cancer a \u2018silent killer\u2019. But does urging women to undergo early detection testing do more harm than good? | Melissa Davey"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cEarly detection blood testing\u201d for ovarian cancer \u201cis now available in Australia\u201d, the online ads say, warning that \u201cit\u2019s not just women with a family history\u201d who can be diagnosed.<\/p>\n

The ad calls the cancer a \u201csilent killer\u201d and says women who wish to be \u201cproactive\u201d can visit a website for early detection. It lists general symptoms including bloating, pelvic pain and the urge to urinate more frequently as potential signs of the disease.<\/p>\n

The website offers ovarian cancer testing for $1,495. People need a referral from a GP, and can either ask their own doctor or book a telehealth appointment through the website.<\/p>\n

Who should get an early detection test for ovarian cancer?<\/h2>\n

While the ads seemingly target any woman who might be concerned by symptoms and who wants to be proactive, BCAL Diagnostics, which runs the early detection site, said the test was only designed for people with higher risk of ovarian cancer\u2013 those with a family history, genetic risk factors or other factors their doctors may have flagged.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not positioned as a general population screening test, a standalone diagnostic test, or a replacement for specialist clinical assessment or surveillance,\u201d said BCAL\u2019s chief executive, Anne-Louise Arnett.<\/p>\n

A blood test, it works by extracting fragments of DNA shed into the bloodstream, then scanning those for subtle chemical tags and genetic patterns that cancer cells produce early in their development. Machine learning is also used to detect the presence or absence of abnormal signals in the blood.<\/p>\n

It has not been approved by Australia\u2019s drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration.<\/p>\n

How accurate is the test?<\/h2>\n

The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation said there was limited peer-reviewed data on the test, with a study published in 2025 including just 42 ovarian cancer samples.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly findings are interesting, but more research is required before this test could be included in clinical guidelines or integrated into the Australian health system,\u201d the foundation said.<\/p>\n

The manufacturer reports a sensitivity (how accurately the test detects actual cancer cases) of 78.2%. This means it may miss ovarian cancer in about one in every five people with the disease, according to the foundation. It reports a specificity (how accurately it returns a negative result in people without cancer) of 94%.<\/p>\n

Dr Barry Kramer, an oncologist who is a cancer-screening expert and a former director of cancer prevention at the US National Cancer Institute, said a 6% error rate for specificity was significant especially when it comes to rare diseases like ovarian cancer.<\/p>\n

Kramer said ovarian cancer was more common in older women. He said assuming it occurred in roughly 30 out of every 100,000 women over 50 each year: \u201cIf the test is given to 100,000 older women, it will accurately indicate cancer in about 23 of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut in the 99,970 women without cancer, about 5,998 will test positive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose 5,998 women, having paid about $1,495 out-of-pocket, will now go on to further testing in the Australian healthcare system,\u201d Kramer said, adding that this could create fear, psychological distress and further medical costs.<\/p>\n

While restricting testing to women at high risk could be beneficial, he said: \u201cThe company doesn\u2019t provide much information about how to do that, and enthusiastic physicians or fearful patients might make the selection process difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of cases in which cancer is detected correctly, Dr Brooke Nickel from the University of Sydney\u2019s school of public health, said there was \u201cno robust evidence which demonstrates blood-based early detection screening tests improve health outcomes, including in higher-risk groups\u201d.<\/p>\n

Nickel said terms like \u201csilent killer\u201d could \u201cmake rare diseases feel more common or immediate than they may be and pairing this with empowerment language can also suggest that more testing is always beneficial\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn reality, screening decisions are complex and this kind of messaging can blur trade-offs and also distort the public understanding of risk,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Weighing up early detection with potential harms<\/h2>\n

Anita Dessaix, the chair of the Cancer Council\u2019s public health committee, said early detection of ovarian cancer was vital \u201cbut it\u2019s important that any test used for cancer screening is supported by strong evidence demonstrating that the benefits outweigh the potential harms\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cPeople should not ignore symptoms and should discuss any concerns with their GP,\u201d she said. \u201cIf a symptom is unusual for them or persists, they should seek medical advice without delay.\u201d

<\/em><\/p>\n

David Hunt, the research and policy director of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, said with a survival rate of just 49%, people who are affected are desperate for a solution.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe [BCAL] test may have some value but doesn\u2019t yet meet the threshold for sensitivity and specificity.\u201d<\/p>\n