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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
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Melissa Davey

Ads call ovarian cancer a ‘silent killer’. But does urging women to undergo early detection testing do more harm than good?

An older woman sits at the computer. There is an ovarian graphic behind
Ovarian cancer is more common in older women with a family history of the disease. Composite: Guardian design/Getty Images

“Early detection blood testing” for ovarian cancer “is now available in Australia”, the online ads say, warning that “it’s not just women with a family history” who can be diagnosed.

The ad calls the cancer a “silent killer” and says women who wish to be “proactive” can visit a website for early detection. It lists general symptoms including bloating, pelvic pain and the urge to urinate more frequently as potential signs of the disease.

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