Since screening for breast and ovarian cancer is virtually ineffective in picking up the deadly tumors early on, a renowned scientist - Professor Gareth Evans of the University of Manchester - is suggesting that women who have a family history of these cancers should have their ovaries removed when they touch 40!

Pointing out that tens of thousands of women with family history of breast and ovarian cancer carry faulty genes, Prof Evans claims that the removal of ovaries is apparently the only way to protect against deadly tumours.

Noting that faulty genes increase a woman's chances of breast and ovarian cancer by 70-90 percent, Prof Evans is of the opinion that women who have their ovaries removed reduce their risk of the tumors by 50 percent --- this is so because ovaries produce the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone which trigger the growth of the two tumours.

In addition, Prof Evans said that since women cannot, at present, depend on screening for the two cancers, the removal of ovaries will help save their lives, even though it will also bring on an early menopause and will end childbearing.

Noting that ovarian cancer was being diagnosed `too late', when it was terminal, in over one-half of the cases, Prof Evans said that once the women who have a family history of the cancers have "completed their family" and are over 40, "they should consider having their ovaries removed"!