Ovarian cancer: The key warning signs women must know to help beat the disease

It is one of the deadliest gynaecological cancers but most women aren’t aware of the warning signs. A new report reveals just one in five women know that abdominal bloating is one of the key symptoms of ovarian cancer which claims more than 4,000 lives in the UK every year.

Target Ovarian Cancer, the charity behind the report, has also raised concerns around early diagnosis, support for GPs and the provision of mental health support for patients, stating that there is “an inherent lack of progress in diagnosis, awareness, treatment and support”.

“There is still a crisis in awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms,” said Target Ovarian Cancer’s lead nurse adviser, Rachel Mugnai.

“Just one in five women know that bloating is one of the key symptoms and over a quarter of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer actually make three or more visits to their GP before being referred for appropriate tests.

“Early diagnosis is vital because, as with any cancer diagnosis, the earlier ovarian cancer is diagnosed, the more treatable it is and the longer somebody can live with it.”

The early signs of ovarian cancer include persistent bloating, feeling full quickly, loss of appetite, pelvic or abdominal pain and frequent urination. Other symptoms can include diarrhoea or constipation, extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss and post-menopausal bleeding.

Comedian Janey Godley, who revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021, has helped to raise awareness of the disease by sharing her experiences of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. In June, Godley said that, following a hysterectomy and six rounds of chemotherapy, she was clear of ovarian cancer.

Following her diagnosis, Godley said: “I felt as though I was full before I was eating a meal, I felt as though I had no real energy and there was a big bloatingness inside my stomach. I got it checked out and it’s ovarian cancer.”

There are around 600 new ovarian cancer cases in Scotland every year, and around 390 deaths. Target Ovarian Cancer is also calling on more steps to ensure essential early detection. Mugnai said: “We need more education and training to help GPs understand the symptoms so it’s at the top of their possible prognosis list, and so will make the right referrals for the appropriate test to confirm a diagnosis as quickly as possible.”

The report also highlighted a worrying lack of mental health support for women with ovarian cancer, which has a 45% survival rate past five years. According to Cancer Research UK, around 70% will survive their cancer for one year or more following diagnosis, while 35% will live 10 years or more.

“We found women weren’t routinely asked about their mental health at their clinic appointments,” added Mugnai. “While 60% said the diagnosis had a negative impact on their mental health, 54% were not asked about their mental health. As this diagnosis has a huge implications for women’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, this is an area where additional support is vital.”

Mugnai believes one solution is to provide more clinical nurse specialists, who are they key contact for women being treated for ovarian cancer. She said: “Clinical nurse specialists are essential yet their capacity to provide care and support can be can be limited by the sheer number of people they support. We call on the government to urgently invest in this workforce to make sure they are able to provide mental health care and support.”

As well as the need for more nationwide awareness campaigns, the charity is also calling for increased funding to support new research into more effective and targeted treatments. “Ovarian cancer is most common in women who have been through the menopause, usually aged over 50, but it can affect women at any age,” added Mugnai. “It’s important that anyone with persistent symptoms gets checked by their GP.”

targetovariancancer.org.uk or call 02079235475 for info