Dr Amir Khan has urged women to seek medical advice if they experience symptoms of ovarian cancer for three weeks or more, describing the disease as a 'silent killer'. The ITV doctor shared the warning signs in a video on Instagram, highlighting that ovarian cancer can be difficult to detect early due to vague symptoms.
The main symptoms include a swollen tummy or bloating, feeling full quickly when eating, reduced appetite, pain or discomfort in the tummy or pelvis, and a frequent need to urinate. Other possible signs are indigestion, changes in bowel habits, back pain, tiredness, unexplained weight changes, and abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Dr Amir emphasised that while many of these symptoms are common and can be caused by other conditions, they should not be ignored if they persist for more than three weeks. 'The key thing is persistence,' he said, urging women to get checked early to make a significant difference if cancer is present.
Ovarian cancer tends to affect women over 40, but anyone with ovaries can develop it. Risk increases if first-degree relatives have a history of breast, ovarian, or bowel cancer. Around 7,700 new cases are diagnosed annually in the UK, with about 3,900 deaths each year, according to Cancer Research UK.
Dr Amir noted that ovarian cancer is often called 'silent' but symptoms are present; they are merely easy to mistake for digestive or menopausal issues. He advised that most people with these symptoms will not have cancer, but checking early is crucial if something serious is going on.
