It’s coming to the end of ovarian cancer awareness month and we want to be sure you keep the facts on your radar.
Around 11 people die every day from ovarian cancer which could be reduced if signs were spotted earlier.
As with all cancers, detecting it and receiving treatment early can make all the difference. If diagnosed early chances of survival for five years or more doubles to more than 90%. But with less than a third of women in the UK confident they know the symptoms, and nearly half of GPs mistakenly believing symptoms present themselves in the later stages of the disease, it’s not surprising that survival rates in the UK are among the lowest in Europe.
Survivor Christine from the Scottish Highlands said: “I cannot get over how wrong it is that my quick diagnosis was down to luck. I want to make sure that every woman receives the same care and support that I did, that it’s not down to luck, and that every woman is given the same chance of beating this disease.”
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are frequent, usually occurring more than 12 times a month and they include:
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Increased abdominal size
- Difficulty eating/ feeling full quickly
- Needing to pee more urgently or more often
Other symptoms can include unexpected weight loss, change in bowel habits, and extreme fatigue. Any post–menopausal bleeding should always be investigated by a GP. Women who regularly experience any of these symptoms that are not normal for them should visit their GP.
We have a clear message: Cancer does not discriminate and can affect people from all backgrounds. Be confident to check symptoms with a GP if your signs are out of the ordinary and push for further tests.
More than half of women must wait three months or more from first visiting their GP to getting a correct diagnosis and over a quarter of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed through A&E. Ensure that anyone experiencing the symptoms above, pushes their GP to investigate, as the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than…
Many people think that ovarian cancer can be identified with a cervical screening test, but this isn’t the case.
Target Ovarian Cancer charity are doing an excellent job to raise awareness on the subject. See their website for more information on the topic and share the news via Twitter and Facebook.