Doctors are urging women to consider removing their fallopian tubes as growing evidence suggests it could reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer by roughly 80 per cent.
About 3,000 women in Canada are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, and 2,000 of them will die, Dr. Elyse Lackie, an OB/GYN, told Global News.
But a highly effective procedure to remove the fallopian tubes, where most ovarian cancers are believed to develop — known as an opportunistic salpingectomy — is proving to be an effective preventative measure, she explained.
The procedure takes less than five minutes and is done on patients already undergoing surgery in the abdominal area and who don’t want children or have finished having children.
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Ovarian cancer is particularly deadly because it is often caught in its later stages due to a lack of observable symptoms or accurate tests that help to catch it early, resulting in low survival rates and limited treatment options.
“Essentially you’re not gonna see it at all, you’re not going to feel it at all, until it’s really advanced and that’s often too late,” Lackie said.
According to a study at the University of British Columbia (UBC) earlier this year, removing the fallopian tubes leaves the ovaries intact, preserving important hormone production and leading to minimal side effects from the added procedure.
“This study clearly demonstrates that removing the fallopian tubes as an add-on during routine surgery can help prevent the most lethal type of ovarian cancer,” said co-senior author Dr. Gillian Hanley, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at UBC.
“It shows how this relatively simple change in surgical practice can have a profound and life-saving impact.”
Shaheen Mawani, who received the operation last year, told Global News it was an “opportune thing” that she went ahead with during a procedure to remove her uterus.
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“This seemed like a brainer for me,” she said.
Dr. Peter Stotland, North York General Hospital Chief of Surgery, said the surgery will see “lives saved” alongside the avoidance of intensive chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical treatments.
“We’ve really put a concerted effort into getting this out there,” he said, so people are aware of the option, which adds very little time to abdominal area procedures that are already underway.
Lackie also called on the Canadian government to invest in the procedure through education and implementation of what she described as a “really simple” operation, with small financial costs that will save the system “so much money” in the long run if ovarian cancer can be prevented.
The opportunistic salpingectomy approach was developed and named by Dr. Dianne Miller, a gynaecologic oncologist with BC Cancer and Vancouver Coastal Health, and associate professor emerita at UBC.
“If there is one thing better than curing cancer, it’s never getting the cancer in the first place,” Miller said.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer can include constipation, bloating, early satiety after eating and back pain. It tends to occur in post menopausal women; though anyone can be at risk, according to the Mayo Clinic.
About 20 per cent of all ovarian cancers are caused by a genetic mutation that also affects a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
The cancer tends to respond well to chemotherapy and radiation but also has a high recurrence rate.
That’s just great
Bad idea.
But I thought our birth rate is plummeting.
Kinda counterintuitive.
SMH
Are they suggesting this to “all ” Canadians or just white woman , to kill off the evil 😈white race 😂😂😂😂
How many other parts of my body do you want to remove for low risk cancers that also respond well to treatment? Shall I have my breast removed too? Or maybe just hang myself and get it over with like my late husband did? I certainly don’t want to cost the medical system too much.
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A.Dawn, I think I can speak for the men in Canada to say that we do not want you to have children either. You sound like a real self centred little bee tch. Go get ‘em tied girlie.
Check out the daily dozen menu from Dr. Michael Greger. The medical industry doesn’t want you to get better. It’s all diet.
@A Dawn
No one cares what you, as a woman, have to say. Be quiet.
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1.4% chance of ovarian cancer over lifetime. 3,000 diagnoses per year or 0.015% of female population.
44% survival rate over 5 years. Median age 54-62.
What’s odd is the article suggests this is a quick procedure if the patient is already undergoing abdominal surgery. How often does that occur?
Needless to say, I would rather you focus on family doctors and family medicine.
When they can clone themselves and increase their number 10 fold, I might be willing to listen.
As a women in Canada that has not ever wanted children can confidently say that you can’t just walk in and get something like this done. More than 10 doctors I’ve asked to “tie my tubes” said no because I’m too young and “might want kids”. It’s not our choice. Be careful on how you make things like this appear. It is proof in these comments how much men want to control women’s bodies.
How many doctors are suggesting castration for men to avoid prostate cancer?
Sure, go ahead and cut your body to shreds. That’s what doctors are for.
According to my sister & mother, it’s a useless practice doing this.
Maybe do it right after birth. Instead of prevention.
Attacked from every angle.
At which point does a woman become a man? How many organs should be removed before you are deemed a man under the new progressive construction of male or female. Honest question.
“Sterilize yourself to avoid an extremely rare and treatable cancer.” Absolutely insane what Rachel Goodman and Global will publish these days. Full proof of demographic replacement is right before your eyes, folks.
Read the article, you far-right clowns. Also, you’re the ones who want less people around anyway. Flip flopping hypocrites. Typical far-righters.
I was refused a tubal at 29. I was having severe side effects from the Mirena iud. I was told no multiple times. Come to find out that was a good thing due to the high occurrence of post tubal ligation syndrome which does occur with tube removal.
This is great news…but only if a woman is undergoing abdominal surgery. This article only really serves to panic those of us who are not undergoing abdominal surgery.
Just one more way to reduce population. If they are so concerned about avoiding cancer why not say cut your breasts off to avoid breast cancer. They don’t care about that because you can still have children. But this one this is the one they want to push. Interesting.
Removing fallopian tubes is basically a castration as you sever the route of the egg to its destination which is uterus, where it can get fertilized.
Are they actively propose the voluntary castration?!? Insane!!!
Watch out. I had mine removed and developed incisional endometriosis. The pain was indescribable. Was out of work for a year waiting for a spot to get the ovary removed. Worst year of my life