The Silent Killer: How Preventative Surgery Could Save Thousands from Ovarian Cancer
In a significant development for women’s health, surgeons are advocating for increased awareness about a preventative procedure that could potentially save thousands of lives from ovarian cancer—a disease often referred to as a “silent killer” due to its lack of clear symptoms and reliable screening tests. According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer claims approximately 12,700 women’s lives annually, with around 20,000 new diagnoses each year. The lifetime risk for women is about 1 in 91, with a 1 in 143 chance of dying from the disease. Now, medical experts who gathered at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2025 are proposing a proactive approach to combat these statistics by implementing preventative measures before the disease develops.
The solution being proposed is surprisingly straightforward yet potentially revolutionary: salpingectomy, or the removal of the fallopian tubes. Many aggressive and common forms of ovarian cancer are believed to originate in the fallopian tubes—structures essential for pregnancy but which serve no further purpose once a woman’s reproductive years have ended. Dr. Joseph Sakran highlighted to Newsweek that millions of women undergo abdominal surgeries such as gallbladder removal and hernia repair annually, presenting what he describes as “missed opportunities for cancer prevention.” The surgeon emphasized that the data is clear—removing the fallopian tubes during these procedures could prevent thousands of ovarian cancer cases annually in the United States with minimal additional risk to patients.
“For me, it’s about expanding the conversation beyond gynecology and recognizing that general surgeons have a critical role to play in women’s cancer prevention,” Dr. Sakran explained. “Every operation is a chance to do more than fix the immediate problem—it’s an opportunity to potentially save a life down the road.” This perspective is reshaping how the medical community views routine surgeries, transforming them into potential life-saving interventions against future cancer development. The approach represents a paradigm shift in preventative care, utilizing existing surgical moments to address future health risks without requiring separate procedures.
Gynecologic oncologist Dr. Becky Stone, who has “witnessed the devastating impact of ovarian cancer firsthand,” describes opportunistic salpingectomy as “revolutionary” because real-world evidence shows it can prevent over 50 percent of ovarian cancers simply by removing the fallopian tubes during surgeries women are already undergoing. “The tragedy is that nearly one in four women I treat had a prior abdominal surgery where this simple, risk-reducing step could have been offered, but wasn’t,” she noted. This revelation points to a significant gap in current medical practice—a gap that, if closed, could dramatically reduce ovarian cancer rates. Dr. Stone encouraged women to visit OutsmartOvarianCancer.org to learn more about taking control of their cancer risk, emphasizing the importance of patient awareness and empowerment in this preventative approach.
At the ACS meeting, Dr. Sakran moderated a session on integrating fallopian tube removal into general surgery practice, advocating for greater awareness among patients that this option is available to post-reproductive women undergoing elective abdominal or pelvic surgeries. Experts at the meeting estimated that incorporating this procedure could prevent almost 6,000 ovarian cancer deaths every year while still preserving the ovaries themselves, which continue to produce key hormones throughout a woman’s life. This preservation of hormonal function is crucial, as it means women can benefit from cancer prevention without experiencing the negative effects of early menopause that would result from removing the ovaries.
The push for opportunistic salpingectomy is particularly important given how difficult ovarian cancer is to detect early. Symptoms often don’t develop until later stages, making prevention all the more critical. When symptoms do appear, they include pelvic or abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating, changes in eating habits, vaginal discharge or abnormal bleeding, bowel changes, frequent urination, and an increase in abdominal size. However, these symptoms are often subtle and easily attributed to other, less serious conditions, which is why ovarian cancer is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are less effective. By offering preventative surgery during already-scheduled procedures, medical professionals have an opportunity to intervene before cancer develops—potentially saving thousands of lives with a relatively simple adjustment to surgical practice.
