Only a third of women would see a doctor when experiencing a major symptom of ovarian cancer, according to the charity Target Ovarian Cancer. A survey of 1,142 women by YouGov found that 34% would visit their GP if faced with persistent bloating, while half said they would first try changing their diet, such as cutting out gluten or eating probiotic yoghurts.
The charity expressed concern over an “alarmingly low rate of awareness” of bloating as a potential cancer symptom. Previous research indicated that only one in five women could name it as a symptom. A separate finding showed that women over 55, the age group most likely to develop the disease, were the least likely to check symptoms online, with 64% of 18-to-24-year-olds saying they would search the internet compared with older groups.
Laura Everley, 38, from Crawley, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014. She said she had experienced all the symptoms, including bloating, but attributed them to irritable bowel syndrome. “I'd even tried going gluten-free, but it had made no difference. The idea of cancer hadn't even entered my head,” she said.
NHS England advises that anyone feeling bloated most days for three weeks or more should see their doctor. While bloating can be caused by other conditions, persistent bloating that does not come and go should be checked. Urinary symptoms and post-menopausal bleeding are also warning signs that warrant investigation.
Two-thirds of women with ovarian cancer in the UK are diagnosed only after the disease has spread. 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. Women should not be risking their lives because of the enduring awareness gap around the symptoms of ovarian cancer.”
