ROCA Care is a comprehensive surveillance package using the ROCA Test.
The ROCA Test is intended for women who:
- Are over 35 years old
- Have tested positive for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
- Choose to delay preventative surgery for reasons that may include wanting to complete their family, or avoid surgical menopause
Before taking the test, you should consult with a clinician to understand the risks and benefits, and to assess your suitability.
Surveillance requires testing 3 times a year. The test result is a numerical score that indicates your risk of developing ovarian cancer. The score is categorized as Normal, Intermediate, or Elevated. Intermediate or Elevated result may require you to have additional tests or a transvaginal ultrasound scan of your ovaries.
The ROCA Care Package
ROCA Care includes:
- An annual clinical consultation (£200).
The first pre-test consultation will assess your suitability for the ROCA Test. - A ROCA Test, every 4 months (£200 per test),
This includes phlebotomy, test reports and consultant letters.
The ROCA Test is not yet available on the NHS, but the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has endorsed it.
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women. It is often called the “silent killer” because the symptoms can be vague and difficult to diagnose at an early stage when the survival rate is high. (Read more from Cancer Research UK). The sooner ovarian cancer can be detected, the earlier it can be diagnosed and treated, increasing the chance of survival.
The ROCA Test, or Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm, is a blood test that assesses the risk of having ovarian cancer. It is recommended for women who have a known mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, as these mutations are associated with a significantly higher lifetime risk of ovarian cancer.
For women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, it is generally advised to consider prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which involves the surgical removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes. This surgery can prevent ovarian cancer from developing. However, two consequences of this procedure are a loss of fertility and the onset of early menopause, which can have various health implications. Therefore, some women choose to delay the surgical procedure in order to maintain hormonal balance and preserve their fertility for as long as possible.
Any woman interested in surveillance using the ROCA Test would have an initial paid consultation arranged with a UK consultant, Professor Adam Rosenthal, a London-based gynaecological consultant, who has over 25 years of clinical and research experience. The consultation will allow you to understand the benefits and risks of using the ROCA Test, your lifetime risk of ovarian cancer and your suitability for the test. If you wish to go ahead, you can have your blood test taken at our Clinic.
When your results are ready, you will receive a test report and a consultant letter by Email, and if required, a follow-up teleconsultation. More information about the ROCA Test can be found at www.therocatest.co.uk
ROCA Care is available to any woman throughout the UK. You can have your blood sample at our clinic or at home via our home service. You can order online here with our Customer Care Team on 01134608760.
Limitations
Understand the risks, limitations and contraindications of the ROCA Test.
Limitations and Risks
- The ROCA Test does not detect all women with ovarian cancer. Therefore, women need to remain aware of the symptoms and speak with their doctor if they are concerned.
- The ROCA Test is NOT to be used as the only test to determine whether you should proceed to surgery or undergo other treatment for ovarian cancer. An abnormal ROCA Test should always be followed by a transvaginal ultrasound examination. In some circumstances, other tests (e.g. pelvic exam, MRI, CT Scan) may be conducted to help the doctor determine whether surgery is necessary.
- An abnormal (“Intermediate” or “Elevated”) ROCA Test result does not mean you definitely have ovarian cancer. Your ROCA score could be abnormal due to other reasons, such as colitis, chronic active hepatitis, endometriosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis. Some women might have a naturally high level of a protein called CA-125, which causes a temporarily high ROCA result until the test learns what your baseline is.
- The current clinical recommendation for women who are considered ‘high risk’ for ovarian cancer (due to mutations in BRCA genes) is prophylactic risk-reducing surgery, typically removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes. The ROCA Test should NOT be offered as an alternative to risk-reducing surgery. Only if a woman cannot undergo or declines risk-reducing surgery should the ROCA Test be considered.
- Although there is evidence that more early-stage ovarian cancers can be detected in women who undergo surveillance using the ROCA Test, many women will still be diagnosed after the cancer has spread.
- There is no evidence to show that surveillance of women with BRCA mutations with the ROCA Test can save lives.
- Surveillance for ovarian cancer using the ROCA Test may create anxiety in some women if there are abnormal results, even when no cancer is present. In some women, these results will lead to surgery even when no cancer is present and occasionally the surgery will have complications. All women undergoing surveillance should understand these risks.
Contraindications
The ROCA Test has not been evaluated in:
- Women previously treated for ovarian cancer.
- Women with symptoms that may be suggestive of ovarian cancer
- Women who have had both their fallopian tubes and ovaries removed.
- Women currently been treated with chemotherapy for any cancer in the last 12 months.
- Women over 84 years of age.
- Women under 35 years of age.
- Pregnant women.
- Only a doctor can determine if the ROCA Test is appropriate for a woman.
Please note that the lab results provided by Miracle Inside are estimates and may vary. You will receive a written analysis of your results within 1 working day. If additional tests are needed, there is no extra charge for this service.
At Miracle Inside Diagnostic Scan Centre, we firmly believe that knowledge is the cornerstone of good health. Our dedicated team is committed to supporting you on your unique health journey, offering expertise, compassion, and confidentiality every step of the way. If you prefer to enquire about your service over the phone, please call us at 0113 460 8760.
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