Women at high risk of ovarian cancer should consider fallopian tube removal, experts say

Experts are drawing attention to the role of fallopian tubes in many cases of ovarian cancer and now say more women, including those at average risk, should consider having their tubes removed to cut their cancer risk.   About 20,000 women in the US were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022, according to the National Cancer Institute, and nearly 13,000 died.   Experts have not discovered a reliable screening test to detect the early stages of ovarian cancer, leading them to rely on symptom awareness to diagnose patients.   Research has found that nearly 70% of ovarian cancer begins in the fallopian tubes. Now, some researchers and advocates are suggesting opportunistic salpingectomy, the surgical removal of both fallopian tubes when the person is already planning abdominal surgery for a different reason.   Find out more about who should consider salpingectomy here.