Expert shares five subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer – and when it’s time to see your GP: ‘Disease is 90 per cent curable if caught early’
Ovarian cancer kills one woman every two hours in the UK.
Now, the Robin Cancer Trust, the UK’s only testicular, ovarian and germ cell cancer charity, is urging women not to ignore the easy-to-miss symptoms of the deadly disease – especially as if caught early, it is highly treatable.
It’s estimated that there are over 7,000 new cases of ovarian cancer and nearly 4,000 deaths caused by the illness in the UK each year.
The cancer is notoriously hard to diagnose because symptoms are often dismissed as irritable bowel syndrome, stress, depression, or issues related to menopause and ageing.
Therefore, only one in five patients is diagnosed in the early stages when treatment is more likely to be successful.
When cervical cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage, around 95 per cent of women will survive for more than five years, according to Cancer Research UK. But this falls to just 40 per cent in stage three and 15 per cent in stage four.
The HPV vaccine does not protect against ovarian cancer and there is currently no national screening programme that detects it.
Therefore, the Robin Cancer Trust says that being ‘symptom-aware’ and seeking medical advice if you notice any signs is vital.
It’s estimated that there are more than 7,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in the UK each year
While any woman can get ovarian cancer, certain factors can increase an individual woman’s risk of developing the disease, including family history.
Both the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can both increase the risk of ovarian and breast cancer by more than 40 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively.
Endometriosis – a condition that causes uterine tissue to grow outside of the womb, causing painful periods and heavy bleeding – also increases risk of the illness fourfold.
Being overweight can also make you more likely to get the illness, as well as having cancer elsewhere in the body.
Early symptoms of ovarian cancer are often characterised by ongoing mild to moderate discomfort rather than extreme sensations.
These symptoms include:
Bloating
Persistent, lasting bloating or an increase in tummy size that does not go away is a key, often overlooked, warning sign of ovarian cancer.
Unlike normal bloating from indigestion, this symptom is usually constant.
According to Ovarian Cancer Action, this type of bloating can make clothes feel tighter or result in a hard, swollen stomach.
Bloating in ovarian cancer is often caused by ascites, a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity triggered by the cancer.
As the tumour grows or spreads to the abdominal lining, it can irritate, resulting in excess fluid production, or block the lymphatic system.
Frequent urination
A change in urinary habits, like needing to go more frequently during the day or night, or feeling a sudden urge to go, can be an early sign of ovarian cancer.
This happens because ovarian tumours can grow and press against the bladder, reducing its capacity and causing a more frequent urge to pee.
The buildup of fluid in the abdomen can also put pressure on the bladder.
The graphic shows the warning signs of ovarian cancer, including bloating and back pain
Feeling full
Another symptom of ovarian cancer is feeling full soon after starting a meal.
This occurs because ovarian tumours can grow large enough to press against the stomach and other digestive organs, reducing their capacity and making you feel full sooner than usual.
This symptom may also come with nausea or indigestion.
Irregular bleeding
Unusual vaginal bleeding, including spotting between periods, heavier periods, or any bleeding after menopause, is a key symptom of ovarian cancer
While often associated with other conditions, these symptoms should be evaluated by a GP immediately.
Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen
Many women experience abdominal pain from time to time, but ongoing pain in the lower stomach or pelvic area that doesn’t go away is not normal.
This could feel like a dull ache, sharp pain, or pressure in the lower abdomen or back.
Ovarian cancer can cause inflammation or pressure in the pelvis, leading to persistent discomfort.
This pain can result from several factors related to ovarian cancer:
Tumour growth: As ovarian tumours grow, they can put pressure on surrounding organs and tissues, leading to discomfort and pain in the abdomen.
Ascites: This is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and is a common complication of ovarian cancer that can cause significant abdominal pain and bloating.
Metastasis: In advanced stages, ovarian cancer can spread to other parts of the abdomen and pelvis, causing widespread pain.
Other signs of ovarian cancer include indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea, back pain, persistent fatigue and unintentional weight loss.
When to see the GP
The Robin Cancer Trust stresses that these symptoms can be completely normal and are often caused by many other factors.
According to the charity, women should visit their GP if symptoms are persistent, frequent, new or unusual for them.
Toby Freeman, CEO and founder of The Robin Cancer Trust, said: ‘Remember, no one knows your body better than you do.
‘Listen to your body, stay symptom aware and seek medical advice if something doesn’t feel right.
‘Knowing what’s normal for your body, and speaking up when something changes, can save lives.’
