How’s this for some clever research – using loyalty cards in pharmacies to track purchases of over-the-counter medicines to elicit clues about possible cases of ovarian cancer.
Scientists from University College London, Imperial College London and Birmingham University were able to tie purchases of pain and indigestion medicines to women who were subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This change in purchasing habit could be seen eight months before diagnosis.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are often difficult to pin down leading some women to downplay symptoms and resort to medicines from a pharmacy. Early symptoms can include loss of appetite, stomach pain and bloating.
