Doctor shares 'subtle' signs of ovarian cancer that should never be ignored
A doctor has warned about the 'subtle' signs of ovarian cancer and urged people not to ignore them.
Every year, around 7,400 women in the UK are diagnosed with this disease, making it the sixth most common cancer among women, according to Cancer Research UK. Ovarian cancer is usually found in older women over 50, but anyone can get it. Certain things like smoking and having conditions such as endometriosis or diabetes can increase your chances of getting it.
The biggest problem with this type of cancer is that more than 75 per cent of cases are found late when the cancer has already spread. Even though treatments have gotten much better, finding out you have cancer later on means you're less likely to survive. Gynaecologist Dr Susanna Unsworth says one of the main reasons for finding out late is because ovarian cancer doesn't often cause big symptoms until it's quite advanced.
But she says several small signs could potentially be an early warning of ovarian cancer and she's telling women to be careful of them, reports Birmingham Live. "I would encourage booking a review with your GP if you are experiencing them," she said. "Many of the symptoms are subtle and do not mean that you have ovarian cancer. But it is worth having them checked out to hopefully exclude any underlying problem."
The doctor says the "key symptoms" to look out for are bloating, pain, urinary symptoms and a lump or swelling. She then explained what exactly to watch out for with each of these. For bloating, this is "new onset bloating, bloating that does not settle within two to weeks, bloating that is happening frequently without an obvious trigger, and bloating that is not resolving with the usual treatments/dietary changes". Next, you need to be careful of "a new pain in the pelvis, back or lower abdomen that does not quickly settle" according to the expert.
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And if you notice you are going "to the toilet more often or needing to get up during the night to go to the toilet" this could be a warning sign. In addition to this, you may also feel less hungry or feel full quickly after eating and if you notice any lump or swelling in the lower tummy or pelvis, Dr Unsworth recommends seeing your GP straightaway, although she says this would be an "unusual" early sign.
Other signs to watch for are tummy troubles that won't go away, feeling tired all the time, losing weight without trying, or bleeding when it's not your period. The doctor says if you have these problems, you should see a doctor. She says: "These symptoms can often be quite subtle, and many are associated with other common conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. The key thing is if the symptoms are new to you, are different to your usual symptoms, or do not respond to your usual treatments, then it makes sense to get them checked out.
"When you see your GP, discuss the symptoms you are experiencing. I would also suggest telling your GP that you are concerned about ovarian cancer. As a doctor, it is much easier for me, if I also know what you are worried about that way I can assess the problem fully for you, making sure whatever is done has helped answer the questions you had.
"After discussing the symptoms, your GP will likely want to do an examination. This will include an examination of your tummy, and may also include an internal vaginal examination as this is the best way to see if there are any swellings around the ovaries.
"In early ovarian cancer, often the examination will actually be normal, as there may not yet be anything to feel. Therefore, your GP will likely arrange other tests for you such as a pelvic ultrasound or Ca125 blood test looking for a protein known as a tumour marker."
Dr Unsworth says: "Your GP may also want to arrange other tests as the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be fairly vague and can overlap with other conditions. This might include other blood tests to look for inflammation or potential causes of tiredness, or may also include tests of your poo to look for any bowel problems.
"If any of these tests raise any level of concern, your GP will refer you to see a gynaecology specialist to arrange further assessment. If the tests are normal, the likelihood of ovarian cancer is extremely low and other options to manage the symptoms can be recommended."
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