Ovarian Cancer: be alert for symptoms

Mid Sussex MP Mims Davies is urging women to contact their GP if they have any symptoms which could point to ovarian cancer.

March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and Mims said it was ‘vital’ for women to contact their GP if they had symptoms, adding: “Around 7,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK each year. This makes ovarian cancer the 6th most common cancer in women. We must take care of ourselves and ensure that we notice these symptoms we act to catch this disease early to have the best outcome possible.”

Symptoms of ovarian cancer include frequently (roughly 12 or more times a month) having:

a swollen tummy or feeling bloated

pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between the hips (pelvis)

no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating

an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often

Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea, back pain, feeling tired all the time, losing weight without trying, and bleeding after the menopause.