March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. In women ages 35-74, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. An estimated one woman in 75 will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime.

When one is diagnosed and treated in the earliest stages, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent. Cervical screening tests – sometimes known  as smear tests –  will NOT detect ovarian cancer. For this reason, it is important to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer and if concerned organising an appointment with your GP. 

Symptoms: 

• Persistent bloating
• Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite 
• Pelvic and abdominal pain (tummy or below) 
• Urinary symptoms (needing to wee more urgently or more often that usual)

Occasionally there can be other symptoms: 

• Changes in bowel habit (eg diarrhoea or constipation)
• Extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
• Unexplained weight loss

Any bleeding after the menopause should always be investigated by a GP.

Ovarian cancer symptoms are:

•  frequent – they usually happen more than  12 times a month

• persistent – they don’t go away

•  new – they are not normal for you 

What tests might your GP do? 

• If your symptoms are frequent and persistent your GP should order a CA125 blood test  
• They may also order ultrasound scans of your tummy and ovaries

To read more on the signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer, download your FREE leaflet here.