A new survey finds that 35 per cent of women who are aware of the human papillomavirus wrongly believe that the HPV vaccine helps prevent ovarian cancer.
In reality, the vaccine is effective against 70 per cent of cervical cancers but offers no protection against ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of gynecologic cancers. This year, it is estimated to kill four times the number of women as cervical cancer. In 2007, about 2,400 Canadian women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 1,700 will die from it. There is no vaccine or screening test.
According to the survey conducted by Harris/Decima for Ovarian Cancer Canada, 24 per cent of Canadian women also wrongly believe that the Pap test screens for ovarian cancer - down from 31 per cent in a benchmark 2005 survey.
The Pap test detects cervical abnormalities only.
Ovarian Cancer Canada's Elisabeth Ross and Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden see these findings as a call to action for an education strategy around HPV vaccine and gynecologic cancers in Canada.
"It is critical that young women know that HPV vaccine and Pap tests for cervical cancers are not catch-alls for diseases below the waist," says Vanderhyden.
Vanderhyden notes that the misinformation could be fatal to some women, since most ovarian cancer diagnoses are made in the late stages, when the survival rate is only 20 per cent.
"We cannot afford girls growing up thinking they are protected against ovarian cancer by this vaccine and start postponing important gynecologic exams. Once they leave the school system, it will be that much harder to reach them."
Other findings from the survey:
- Women in Atlantic Canada are more likely to believe that HPV vaccine helps to prevent ovarian cancer. Among those who are aware of HPV, 47 per cent of women surveyed in Atlantic Canada believe that HPV vaccine prevents the disease.
- Women in Alberta are more likely to believe that there is a reliable screening test for ovarian cancer. Fifty-eight per cent of women surveyed in Alberta believe that there is a reliable screening test for the disease.
- Women ages 34 and younger are more likely than women ages 55 and over to believe that there is a reliable screening test for ovarian cancer. Forty per cent of ovarian cancers occur in women younger than 49 years of age.
The Harris/Decima study was conducted in July and August with a total sample size of 1,007 and an associated margin of error of +/- 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Earlier this year, cancer experts in the U.S. issued a consensus on ovarian cancer symptoms common to many women. These include: abdominal pain, swelling of the abdomen or bloating, changes in urinary frequency, weight loss or gain, and nausea.
Ovarian Cancer Canada recommends that women should see their doctors if they experience symptoms that last longer than three weeks.
The risk of ovarian cancer increases among women who have a family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer; have never had children; are over 50; have never used oral contraceptives; or are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
