On testing for ovarian cancer

September is  National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.

It's only fitting that a new blood test aimed at detecting ovarian cancer in an early, treatable stage is generating some controversy.

There is no question that we need a test for ovarian cancer. It kills 15.000 women annually, according to the American Cancer Society, making it the deadliest of cancers affecting women's reproductive organs.

There is a new test out, called OvaSure, that's being marketed as a way to detect ovarian cancer in its early stages. An article in last week's New York Times, however, says the FDA is not convinced the company's data support its claims about the test.

"We believe you are offering a high-risk test that has not recieved adequate clinical validation and may harm the public health,'' the agency said in a letter to the company posted on its website.

The concern: The test will say a cancer is there, when it isn't, leading women to unneccesary surgery to have their ovaries removed. And not to mention of the anxiety of a false positive.

It's a tough call. Clearly, we need a test, but you want one that works accurately!

It's time for women's health issues to be taken seriously.