March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. 1 in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime, making it the fifth most common cancer in women in the UK. Ovarian cancer is not always detected in the early stages, but women should look out for the symptoms below, because the earlier the disease is diagnosed the better the chance of survival.
Symptoms
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are persistent and frequent (they usually happen more than 12 times a month). They include:
• Increased abdominal size/persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes)
• Difficulty eating/feeling full
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Needing to wee more urgently or more often
• Other symptoms can include unexpected weight loss, change in bowel habits, and extreme fatigue.
If you regularly experience any of these symptoms, which are not normal for you, it is important that you see your GP. It is unlikely that your symptoms are caused by a serious problem, but it is important to get checked out.
To find out more visit http://ocam.org.uk/ to see what the UK ovarian and women’s health charities are doing or take part in one of the campaigns to raise awareness.
