BLOATING: WHEN TO BE CONCERNED

BLOATING IS SUCH a usual symptom for women that many take it for granted. But it is also the most common symptom of ovarian cancer. ‘Women often dismiss it as being something less sinister and don’t go to their doctor,’ says Louise Bayne, CEO of Ovacome, an ovarian cancer support charity.

The trouble is that even if women do consult their doctor, a recent survey of 324 patients for Ovacome suggested that a significant number are treated for irritable bowel disease or the menopause. ‘Persistent bloating is an important indicator of ovarian cancer but GPs will typically see just one case of ovarian cancer every five years so they may not link it to the disease.’

Patients in the survey who had gone to their GP with bloating had waited an average of 22 weeks for a referral to a gynaecological specialist.

If they complained of abdominal pain, the second most common symptom of ovarian cancer, they waited an average 17 weeks.

Although ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Ireland, with 300 new cases every year, more than half of all cases are not diagnosed until the disease has advanced to stage 3 or 4, where the cancer has spread and is difficult to treat effectively.

‘Ovarian cancer needs to be ruled out early on, instead of wasting time,’ says Louise Baynes.