Each year around 7,400 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, making it the sixth most common cancer in women, according to Cancer Research UK. The disease is more prevalent in those over 50, but risk factors such as smoking, endometriosis and diabetes can increase the likelihood of developing it. Experts warn that over 75 per cent of cases are diagnosed at a later stage, when the cancer has already spread, leading to lower survival rates.
Gynaecologist Dr Susanna Unsworth emphasises that one of the main reasons for late diagnosis is that ovarian cancer often does not cause significant symptoms until it is advanced. However, she identifies several subtle symptoms that may be early warning signs. 'I would encourage booking a review with your GP if you are experiencing them,' she told The Mirror. 'Many of the symptoms are subtle and do not mean that you have ovarian cancer. But it is worth having them checked out to hopefully exclude any underlying problem.'
The key symptom to look out for is new onset bloating that does not settle within two to three weeks, occurs frequently without an obvious trigger, or does not resolve with usual treatments or dietary changes. Other symptoms include a new pain in the pelvis, back or lower abdomen that does not quickly settle, and urinary changes such as passing urine more frequently or needing to get up during the night. A loss of appetite or feeling full quickly after eating may also occur, and any lump or swelling in the lower abdomen or pelvis should prompt an immediate GP visit, though this is an unusual early sign.
Additional symptoms include persistent indigestion, a change in bowel habit (constipation or diarrhoea), unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Dr Unsworth advises that if symptoms are new, different from usual, or do not respond to typical treatments, it is sensible to get them checked. When seeing a GP, she recommends explicitly expressing concern about ovarian cancer to facilitate a thorough assessment.
GP evaluation typically includes an abdominal examination and possibly an internal vaginal examination to detect swellings around the ovaries. In early ovarian cancer, examinations may be normal, so further tests such as a pelvic ultrasound or a CA125 blood test (measuring a tumour marker protein) are often arranged. Additional blood tests for inflammation or tiredness causes, and stool tests for bowel problems, may also be conducted. If any test raises concern, the GP will refer to a gynaecology specialist. Normal tests make ovarian cancer extremely unlikely.
