Bloating, back pain and tiredness are signs of the sixth deadliest cancer for women.
With 7,500 new cases diagnosed in the UK each year, ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women, according to Cancer Research UK. Roughly three in 10 people live a decade or more after being diagnosis.
Early detection means the cancer is more treatable. Caught early, 93% of people survive five years or more after diagnosis, falling to 13% when ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the later stages. But only one in 10 women know the main symptoms of ovarian cancer, according to Ovarian Cancer Action.
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The charity said: "We can save thousands more lives by equipping people with the information that can prevent ovarian cancer in those at highest risk and diagnose ovarian cancer in others as early as possible."
Symptoms of ovarian cancer aren't always obvious and may be caused by many different conditions. If they occur frequently, 12 or more times a month, they may be a sign of ovarian cancer. According to the NHS, the symptoms of ovarian cancer include:
- a swollen tummy or feeling bloated
- pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between the hips (pelvis)
- no appetite, or feeling full quickly after eating
- an urgent need to pee, or needing to pee more often
Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
- indigestion
- constipation or diarrhoea
- back pain
- feeling tired all the time
- losing weight without trying
- bleeding from the vagina after the menopause
These symptoms are very common, but if they're new, frequent and persistent, it's worth getting them checked by a GP, according to Target Ovarian Cancer. The charity said: "If you regularly experience any one or more of these symptoms, which aren't normal for you, it's important that you contact your GP.
"It's unlikely that your symptoms are caused by a serious problem but it's important to get checked out, even if they're mild. Your GP should order a CA125 blood test. They may also order ultrasound scans of your ovaries and tummy."
It added: "Ovarian cysts can produce symptoms similar to those for ovarian cancer but they aren't known to increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) also have symptoms similar to ovarian cancer. If your symptoms don't go away, go back to your GP or ask for a second opinion within two weeks."
Anyone with ovaries can get ovarian cancer, according to the NHS. This includes women, trans men and some non-binary and intersex people. More than half of all cases are in people aged 65 and older. It sometimes runs in families, and inherited genes like the BRCA genes or those linked to Lynch syndrome may increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Target Ovarian Cancer said: "If two or more of your close relatives have had cancer you should tell your GP as ovarian cancer can run in families."
Other risk factors include having had breast or bowel cancer, having had radiotherapy for a previous cancer, having endometriosis or diabetes, smoking, being overweight. If you started periods young, went through menopause later than 55, or haven't had a baby, you may be more at risk as it may mean you haven't ovulated.
Taking hormone replacement therapy, and never having used any hormonal contraception, like the pill or an implant, may also increase the chances of getting ovarian cancer, according to the NHS.
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