Coping with… OVARIAN CANCER

Cancer of the ovary is one of the common female cancers, especially for over 50s

The ovaries are a pair of organs in the lower abdomen, which store and produce your eggs for reproduction. Cancer of the different cells within the ovaries is most common after the menopause and can be slow to notice at first.

Symptoms include feeling bloated, lower abdomen or pelvis discomfort, fullness after small meals, needing to pee frequently and abdominal swelling. The cause is unknown, but there is a genetic link. Be more aware if you have a family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer. Other risk factors include a small increased risk if you are using HRT or have had endometriosis, being overweight, a lack of exercise, smoking and, rarely, asbestos exposure.

See your GP, who will examine you and refer you for a scan, or will refer you to a gynaecologist who will arrange a scan. They will do blood tests, including a CA125 test for a substance produced by some ovarian cancer cells, or other conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids. Then an ultrasound scan is done to get a picture of your ovaries and uterus, across the abdominal wall, or using a vaginal probe for a better picture. A CT or MRI scan may be done for further detail, a chest X-ray to look for any spread, and a needle biopsy may be needed for a cell sample from the ovary or surrounding fluid. This could be done through the abdominal wall with local

anaesthetic, or by laparoscopy

– under general anaesthetic through a small cut in your tummy, so your ovaries can be examined and a biopsy taken.

Treatment will depend on the type of ovarian cancer and the staging of how far it has spread: from Stage 1, where the cancer only affects one or both ovaries, through to Stage 4, where

the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver or lungs. It is also graded from Grade 1 (more likely to grow slowly) to

Grade 3 (more likely to grow quickly). The treatment depends on how far it has spread, your general health and whether you’re still able to have children.

The aim of treatment is to cure the cancer, if possible. If the cancer is too advanced to be cured, treatment aims to relieve symptoms and control the cancer for as long as possible. You’ll be cared for by a team of healthcare professionals who will create a treatment plan and support you throughout your treatment.