March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and there are 10 symptoms of the deadly disease you should never ignore – and always get checked out to be on the safe side
Ovarian cancer can be hard to diagnose because many of the symptoms of this disease can easily be mistaken for other conditions. There are 10 symptoms that you should always get checked out if you begin to notice – and even if they turn out to be caused by something else it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which aims to bring more understanding of the signs and symptoms of this deadly disease – that currently only 35 percent of those diagnosed survive beyond 10 years.
According to Cancer Research, each day 21 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the UK – which is about 7,500 annually – with 11 people tragically dying daily from this disease.
Survival rates for ovarian cancer – like many other forms of the disease – massively improve with early detection, so it’s crucial to be aware of the signs and symptoms you should keep an eye out for, and book an appointment with your GP is you notice anything unusual in your body.
Main symptoms of ovarian cancer
There are, according to the NHS, four symptoms that most commonly show up when someone has ovarian cancer. These can be signs of the disease when they appear frequently, which the NHS measures as more than 12 times a month.
Little to no appetite, or feeling really full very quickly after eating can be a symptom, as can persistent bloating – or your stomach being swollen.
Equally, changes to your urination habits should be watched out for – including needing to go to the toilet more often than usual or feeling the need to urinate very urgently. Pelvic pain is another of the most common symptoms of ovarian cancer, this could manifest as tenderness or pain in your stomach itself, or in the region between your hips.
Bloating, pelvic pain, appetite changes, and urgently needing to urinate all need to be checked out by your GP is they are happening persistently. Whilst they can also be signs of other conditions, it’s crucial to get these looked at.
Less common symptoms of ovarian cancer
There are six symptoms that can also indicate ovarian cancer, but they can also be signs of other common, and far less serious conditions. However, if these persist, you should still get them checked out, just to be safe.
Firstly, you may experience pain in your back, similar to that of pelvic pain, but this is a less common indicator of ovarian cancer. You may also find yourself losing weight, without even trying, which should be raised with your GP – this could be linked to a loss of appetite, or feeling sick.
Indigestion can also be a sign of ovarian cancer – although this is a “common problem in the general population, and for most people it isn’t a sign of cancer,” Cancer Research explains. This could show up as heartburn, bloating, or nausea.
Changes to your bowel movements can also be a sign of ovarian cancer, whether you find yourself regularly suffering from loose poo or needing to go more often than is usual for you – diarrhoea – or noticing you have fewer bowel movements than normal, and they are harder than what you are used to – constipation.
Unexplained tiredness is also another symptom to look out, especially if there isn’t any reason you can put your finger on that might be causing abnormal levels of fatigue.
Finally, if you have bleeding from the vagina, but you have gone through menopause, you need to get this checked out by your doctor.
It’s important to remember that the persistence of these symptoms and the frequency of them can be the difference between a common condition that isn’t that serious, and ovarian cancer itself. You shouldn’t worry if you notice some of these have come up, because they can be signs of other issues, but it is never worth taking risks with your health and you should still get them checked out.
Early detection is key to treatability and high survival rates, so you can never be too careful. As Cancer Research notes, the symptoms of ovarian cancer “can be very vague” and easily mistaken for other conditions, so even if these symptoms “are unlikely to be cancer,” you should still familiarise yourself with them and ensure your peace of mind by booking an appointment with your GP if you notice anything unusual happening in your body.
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