平特五不中

Ovarian cancer is a killer, but it can be stopped. And a new and innovative MUHC project called DOVE aims to do its part by helping women and their doctors detect and treat it in its early stages.

Ovarian cancer has one of the highest mortality rates of all diseases, but studies show that 90 per cent of people can be cured if it is detected in its early stages.

鈥淯nfortunately the vast majority of people wait 鈥� sometimes as long as a year 鈥� before seeing a gynaecologist, by which time it is often too late to save them,鈥� says Dr. Lucy Gilbert, Chief of Gynaecological Oncology at the 平特五不中 Health Centre (MUHC).

The reason so many women wait before seeing a gynaecologist is because the symptoms of ovarian cancer are often very vague; women may feel bloated or suffer from heartburn. 鈥淭hese are hardly the kind of symptoms that cause women to run to their doctor,鈥� says Dr. Gilbert. As a result, women often delay seeing a doctor until the disease has reached its critical stages.

In the greater Montreal area, 350 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed each year. 鈥淚f we see these people in stage one, they have a great chance of being cured,鈥� says Dr. Gilbert. 鈥淯nfortunately 80 per cent of people present to a gynaecologist in stages three and four, when the cancer has already spread to the vital organs.鈥�

The DOVE project (Detecting OVarian cancer Early) aims to catch these new cases in stage one, when the chances of being cured are highest. The project, which is jointly funded by the MUHC Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has already established the world鈥檚 first Rapid Access Diagnostic Center for the early detection of ovarian cancer and has received 450 calls since May.

鈥淲omen who have been symptomatic for more than two weeks and up to a year should call the centre and set up an appointment,鈥� says Dr. Gilbert. 鈥淚t鈥檚 free, you don鈥檛 need a referral, and in less than three weeks you will have the results.鈥� In a race against time, every day counts.

As part of Ovarian Cancer Month Dr. Lucy Gilbert will present an overview of the DOVE study and inform women how they can become involved.

What every woman should know; a lecture by Dr. Lucy Gilbert, Chief of Gynaecological Oncology at the MUHC; Tuesday Sept. 9, 7:30pm; Nurses lounge (H4), Royal Victoria Hospital, 687 Pine Avenue West. Admission is free. To reserve a seat or for more information contact Monica McDougall (514) 934-1934 ext. 71243 or at monica.mcdougall [at] muhc.mcgill.ca For more information about the DOVE trial please call: 1-866-716-3267 or visit:

About the MUHC
The 平特五不中 Health Centre (MUHC) is a comprehensive academic health institution with an international reputation for excellence in clinical programs, research and teaching. Its partner hospitals are the Montreal Children's Hospital, the Montreal General Hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Montreal Neurological Hospital and Institute, the Montreal Chest Institute and the Lachine Hospital. The goal of the MUHC is to provide patient care based on the most advanced knowledge in the health care field and to contribute to the development of new knowledge.