Bloating may be cancer sign

LONDON: Women are more likely to change their diet than seek medical help when suffering from a key symptom of ovarian cancer, a charity has warned.

According to a survey of more than 1 000 women by Target Ovarian Cancer, despite persistent bloating being one of the main signs of the disease, half of the women said they would try measures such as eating more probiotic yoghurts or going gluten-free before visiting a doctor.

Only a third of the women said they would visit their GP if they were concerned.

Instead, many will try self-medication through diet.

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among British women, with more than 7400 new cases recorded each year.

It mainly affects those who have been through the menopause, with 82% of cases registered among women over 50.

Previous studies have shown that just one in five women can name persistent bloating as a symptom of ovarian cancer which experts have described as “alarming”.

Annwen Jones, chief executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “A probiotic yoghurt should not be preventing a woman from visiting the GP promptly if something is worrying her.”

The average risk of developing ovarian cancer is one in 50, but factors such as being overweight and smoking increase the risk. – Daily Mail