What you need to know about OVARIAN CANCER

Sadly, more than half of all women diagnosed with ovarian cancer don’t survive five years or more. Why is this happening? Natalia Lubomirski investigates

Today, 21 women in the UK* will hear the frightening words, ‘You have ovarian cancer.’ And, worryingly, the odds are stacked against them. It has one of the worst cancer survival rates** and kills more British women than the other four gynae cancers (womb, cervical, vaginal and vulval) combined***. With March marking Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we speak to the experts about why this is happening – and how to put a stop to it.

Knowledge is everything

Lack of awareness is playing a worrying role. When it comes to cancer, we try to keep on top of checks and available tests, whether that’s feeling for breast lumps, tracking moles or attending our cervical screening. But ovarian cancer is still flying under the radar.

Perhaps it’s because there’s still no reliable, effective screening method for ovarian cancer. Therefore, knowing the symptoms is vital, especially as survival rates soar when it’s caught early. Diagnosed at stage I, you have a 90% chance of surviving five years or more†. However, 90% of women still don’t know the four main symptoms***. So what should you look out for and when is it time to visit your GP?

Spotting the signs

The four main symptoms are bloating (more than 12 times a month), feeling full, abdominal/pelvic pain, and needing to pee. Other symptoms include back pain, changes in bowel habits (going more or less often), and extreme tiredness. They all seem rather innocuous, and ones you’d associate more with an erratic digestive system, than cancer. But recognising what’s abnormal for you could be a lifesaver.

‘You don’t need to have all these symptoms before you see your GP – having just one that’s new and persistent needs your attention,’ explains Dr Sharon Tate, head of primary care development at Target Ovarian Cancer.

The Robin Cancer Trust (therobin cancertrust.org) recommends asking these four vital questions about your symptoms.

1 Are they persistent (won’t go away)?

2 Are they frequent (occur most days)?

22% of women wrongly think cervical screenings check for ovarian cancer, says Target Ovarian Cancer.

3 Are they new (started in the last 12 months)?

4 Are they unusual for you?

Mixed signals

Even when you do know the symptoms, they can be vague and are often confused with less serious conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary syndrome and the menopause. ‘As symptoms are non-specific, it’s likely people present to the GP later, often trying different things at home, or over the counter, first,’ warns Dr Verity Biggs, women’s health lead and menopause GP at H3 Health (h3health. co.uk). This is another reason ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, when survival rates drop.

‘If you’re worried, talk to your GP,’ says Dr Tate. Be prepared – make notes and track symptoms and their frequency in a diary. It can help your doctor make a speedier diagnosis.

Symptoms can be confusing for GPs too. If you’re over 50 and your appointment results in an IBS diagnosis, Dr Tate recommends asking for a second opinion. ‘A new IBS diagnosis is extremely uncommon in women over 50,’ she says. ‘If they suspect IBS, they should also request ovarian cancer tests too.’ These include a CA125 blood test and ultrasound scan. ‘If both tests indicate ovarian cancer, you’ll be referred to a specialist.’

Future screening

‘As yet there are no effective tests available to screen at population level,’ explains Dr Tate, although ovarian cancer charities are funding research into this. Until then, Dr Biggs believes we need more targeted campaigns nationally, including posters and information leaflets in surgeries and even in toilet cubicles. So be aware, know the symptoms and seek help – but don’t stay silent.

RISK FACTORS Being over 50 (although ovarian cancer is possible at any age), smoking, being overweight and a family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer.