Dr Amir Khan, the ITV doctor, has urged women to seek medical help if they experience symptoms of ovarian cancer for three weeks or more. In a video shared on Instagram, he described the disease as a 'silent killer' but stressed that symptoms are often present, just easy to overlook.
Ovarian cancer affects around 7,700 new patients in the UK annually, with approximately 3,900 deaths, according to Cancer Research UK. Dr Khan explained that anyone with ovaries can develop the cancer, though it is more common in women over 40.
The symptoms include a swollen tummy or persistent bloating, feeling full quickly when eating, pain in the tummy or pelvis, and a frequent need to urinate. Dr Khan advised that these symptoms should be checked if they last for three weeks or more with no obvious cause.
Additional symptoms may include indigestion, changes in bowel habits, back pain, fatigue, unexplained weight changes, or abnormal vaginal bleeding. Dr Khan highlighted that a family history of breast, ovarian, or bowel cancer increases the risk.
He emphasised that most people with these symptoms will not have cancer, but early detection can make a significant difference. 'The key thing is persistence,' he said, urging women not to ignore symptoms that persist for three weeks or more.
