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: A Silent Threat in the UK

Every two hours, a UK woman succumbs to ovarian cancer. The Robin Cancer Trust, dedicated to testicular, ovarian, and germ cell cancers, is emphasizing the need for women to recognize subtle signs. With over 7,000 new cases diagnosed annually and nearly 4,000 deaths linked to the illness, early detection is crucial.

The Urgency of Early Diagnosis

Ovarian cancer is often dismissed as minor ailments like irritable bowel syndrome, stress, or menopause-related discomfort. This tendency to overlook symptoms leads to only one in five patients receiving an early-stage diagnosis, where treatment success is more probable.

“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.”

Without a national screening program, identifying the disease early relies heavily on symptom awareness. The Robin Cancer Trust stresses that noticing any unusual signs should prompt immediate medical attention.

Key Symptoms to Watch For

Early indicators of ovarian cancer typically involve mild, persistent discomfort rather than acute pain. A critical sign is prolonged bloating that doesn’t subside, often causing a tightness in clothing or a swollen abdomen. This is attributed to ascites, a fluid buildup triggered by the cancer.

Another warning sign is a sudden feeling of fullness after eating, which may coincide with nausea or digestive issues. This occurs when tumours press on the stomach and digestive organs. Unusual vaginal bleeding, such as spotting between periods or post-menopausal discharge, also warrants prompt evaluation by a GP.

Additional Risk Factors

While all women are susceptible, certain factors heighten risk. Family history of the disease, along with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, significantly elevates the chance of developing ovarian and breast cancers by over 40% and 29% respectively. Endometriosis, a condition where uterine tissue grows outside the womb, also increases susceptibility by fourfold. Obesity and existing cancers elsewhere in the body can contribute to heightened susceptibility.