Working to raise awareness and improve outcomes for ovarian and gynecological cancers

September 2024 | Health Equity

At Point32Health, our mission is simple: to guide and empower healthier lives for everyone. Part of that mission, then, must be to educate our members and the communities we serve about health disparities that we are actively working to combat. Our approach to health equity is centered on ensuring access to high-quality, affordable health care and opportunity for everyone – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status and more – to attain their full health potential.

September is Ovarian/Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month, and we know that these cancers negatively impact Black and Brown women disproportionately, with African American women experiencing worse outcomes than non-Hispanic White women. While it’s true that ovarian cancer is more common in White women than Black women, Black women are more often diagnosed late. Research from the National Library of Medicine found that Black women were more likely to be diagnosed with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (stage III and IV) compared with White women, and Black patients were also more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age.

While ovarian and gynecological cancers do impact people of all racial identities, these health inequities make advocacy and education about early detection and regular screenings even more important.

Early Cancer Detection & Prevention

For 2024, the American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 19,680 women will receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis. And while ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women, outcomes for those with ovarian and gynecological cancers has been steadily improving. The incidence rate declined by nearly 3% per year from 2015 to 2019, and ovarian cancer deaths are down 40% since 1975. While a number of factors have improved these health outcomes, there are steps you can take to mitigate your own risk of developing these and other cancers.

  1. Preventive Cancer Screenings

Usually known as a “well woman” visit, these annual gynecological exams are typically covered by your health plans. These preventive screenings are intended to identify markers for cancer in people who have no symptoms, offering the best chance of finding it early, before it has spread.

The American Cancer Society has the following recommendations for preventive screenings for women, based on their age:

  • Age 21-29, it is recommended that anyone with a cervix get screened with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test every three years. It is also recommended that women in this age bracket get HPV testing every three years.
  • Age 30-64, it is recommended that women continue to get a Pap test every three years or choose to screen every five years with either a human papillomavirus (HPV) test or both an HPV test and Pap test. It is important to note that no testing is needed after surgery that removed the cervix as long as it was done for reasons not related to cervical cancer or pre-cancer.
  • Age 65+, no testing is needed if you’ve had regular cervical cancer testing with normal results during the previous 10 years. However, if the patient has experienced a history of serious cervical pre-cancer, testing should continue for another 25 years.

These age recommendations are based on existing American Cancer Society guidelines, and do not take into consideration a person’s family health history. It is best to talk to your doctor about potential risk factors that could increase your cancer risk, which would require earlier cancer screenings.

  1. Consider Genetic Testing

Predictive genetic testing has become a widely used tool for identifying inherited gene mutations that may increase an individual’s risk for specific cancers. The American Cancer Society notes that individuals might consider discussing this testing with their health care provider if there is a family history indicating a potential hereditary cancer or if a cancer diagnosis occurs at an early age.

Advancements in genetic testing have also led to innovations in early cancer detection. One notable example is GRAIL’s Galleri® multi-cancer early detection test, which is available for eligible members of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan. This test, which involves a simple blood sample, can identify a common cancer signal across more than 50 types of cancer, often before any symptoms appear. Additionally, over 45 of the cancers detected by the Galleri test currently do not have established screening recommendations.

Regular screenings for ovarian cancer are vital for early detection and improved outcomes, especially for women at higher risk. As awareness about the importance of screenings and genetic testing grows, Point32Health will continue to further this cause, encouraging every woman to prioritize her health and advocate for the health screenings that can make a difference.