References
Category:FalloutFallopian tube cancer is more common in American black women than white women. A recent study found that the survival of women with stage I, II, or III disease is not significantly different among ethnic groups.
Amelia Nolan, PhD, MD, MPH, of the UCLA School of Medicine, and colleagues analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, a national cancer surveillance program. They found that the incidence of fallopian tube cancer in American black women was 9.7 per 100,000 person-years from 1998 to 2003. Incidence in American white women was 4.1 per 100,000 person-years during the same time period. The incidence of fallopian tube cancer increased over time. The researchers found no significant difference in incidence by stage of disease.
Dr. Nolan says the results of the study are surprising, given the known higher risk of developing breast and cervical cancer among American black women. She says, “As a clinician, we often don’t find fallopian tube cancer in women of African descent because there are several competing causes of adnexal masses that may be more common in that population.”
She adds that because of the incidence of breast cancer and cervical cancer, American black women are more likely to be diagnosed with, and more likely to die from, other cancers, like lung cancer. “This is the first study to assess the incidence and survival of fallopian tube cancer in a population of African American women. It reinforces the need for a low threshold of investigation in women with an adnexal mass in order to make early diagnosis and treatable disease,” she says.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends annual pelvic examinations for women in their 40s and annual breast examinations for women in their 20s.
“Women in their 40s, especially those with a personal or family history of breast cancer, should be screened annually,” says Mary Ann Collins, MD, PhD, FACOG. “Regular gynecologic care is of the utmost importance to women of reproductive age, including those of African descent. Women in their 20s should also receive routine breast examinations. For those with known risk factors, regular screening is appropriate.”
The best indicator of when to start preventive breast and pelvic exams is how often women are screened. The American Cancer Society estimates that 69.2 million women in the U. ac619d1d87
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