Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women and is the deadliest of all cancers affecting the female reproductive system. The lifetime risk of a woman developing ovarian cancer is approximately 1 in 78, and her lifetime risk of dying from it is approximately 1 in 108 (excluding low malignant potential ovarian tumors)
According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that in 2023 in the United States, 19,710 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and around 13,270 women will die from ovarian cancer.
The results of the study could help find people with ovarian cancer at an earlier stage, which is one of the best ways to improve their chances of living longer. 93% of people with ovarian cancer who are diagnosed at the earliest stage (stage 1) live for 5 years or more, but only 13% of those who are diagnosed at the latest stage (stage 4).
“The cancer symptoms we are looking for are very common, but for some women, they could be the first signs of something more serious,” remarks lead author Dr. James Flanagan.
“Using shopping data, our study found a noticeable increase in purchases of pain and indigestion medications among women with ovarian cancer up to 8 months before diagnosis, compared with women without ovarian cancer. This suggests that long before women have recognised their symptoms as alarming enough to go to the GP, they may be treating them at home.
“As we know early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is key to improving chances of survival, we hope this research can lead to ovarian cancer symptoms being picked up earlier and improve patients’ options for treatment.”
The study, conducted by researchers from Imperial College London, University College London, and the University of Birmingham and financed by Cancer Research UK, contained loyalty card information for 283 women from two UK-based high street stores. Out of these people, 153 had received an ovarian cancer diagnosis, whereas 120 had not. The researchers analyzed the women’s buying histories over six years.
Participants were also asked to fill out a short questionnaire about their ovarian cancer risk factors, any symptoms they had (if any), and how many times they went to their doctor in the year before they were referred for or given a cancer diagnosis.
Ovarian cancer patients typically experienced the onset of symptoms 4.5 months prior to diagnosis. Most people who went to a doctor to check their symptoms went for the first time about three and a half months before they were diagnosed.
The researchers expect that additional trials with individuals identified at various stages would validate their findings.
It is also anticipated that this study may pave the way for the creation of an early warning system for cancer and other disorders, allowing people to seek treatment sooner rather than later.
Cancer Research UK has provided funding for the researchers to continue its investigation into whether OTC medicines may be used in a similar manner for the diagnosis of additional cancers, including those of the stomach, liver, and bladder.
“Today, in the digital age,” adds Dr. David Crosby, Head of Prevention and Early Detection Research at Cancer Research UK, “we live with a wealth of data at our fingertips. Studies like this are a great example of how we can harness this information for good and help us detect cancer earlier.
“It’s incredible to think that this innovative study using loyalty cards, something most of us carry in our wallets, could help women with ovarian cancer which is often diagnosed late and mimics the symptoms of other, more benign conditions.
“Whilst further research with more patients is needed, this study indicates exciting potential for a new way to detect cancer earlier and save lives.”
“I lived on Gaviscon for 18 months prior to my ovarian cancer diagnosis, it went everywhere with me due to severe acid reflux. Had this been associated with ovarian cancer, I would have had a faster diagnosis, far less surgeries and better fertility options,” said Fiona Murphy, an ovarian cancer patient representative who helped develop the study.
“I wanted to help with developing this study because I had the wrong diagnosis for nearly two years. If there is a way to get an earlier diagnosis, I want to help people who are in the same position I was in.”
Fiona, who had been experiencing symptoms for almost 2 years, was diagnosed with mucinous ovarian cancer in 2008. However, her loyalty card data was not included in the study’s sample of 283 participants.
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