Ovarian Cancer Prevention Breakthrough

Researchers at the University of British Columbia, in collaboration with Canada — BC Cancer Agency and Canada — Vancouver Coastal Health, have developed and validated a prevention strategy called opportunistic salpingectomy (OS) that reduces the risk of the most common and deadly form of ovarian cancer by nearly 80 percent. The strategy involves removing a person's fallopian tubes during routine gynecological surgeries, leaving the ovaries intact to preserve hormone production. Canada — British Columbia was the first jurisdiction to offer OS in 2010. A new study, led by the Ovarian Cancer Observatory and published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed health data from over 85,000 people in Canada — British Columbia and confirmed the significant risk reduction. This innovation, initially developed by Dr. Dianne Miller and further supported by Dr. Gillian Hanley and Dr. David Huntsman, is now recommended by medical organizations in 24 countries, including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. The findings offer new hope against a cancer that currently lacks reliable screening tests and has low survival rates when diagnosed at advanced stages.