06 March 2024 , 11:40
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Over 7,000 women in the UK alone are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, but the majority miss the early warning signs.
The disease - which takes more than 4,000 lives across the nation annually - is often dubbed as the 'silent killer'. This is because the symptoms are often vague and frequently dismissed as 'normal changes' linked to ageing, previous pregnancies and menopause.
Even a large proportion of GPs (46 per cent) falsely believe ovarian cancer only presents symptoms in the later stages - where survival rates start to sharply decline - according to Target Ovarian Cancer. As March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we shed light on one particular sign that you may notice after eating dinner.
The NHS states having no appetite or feeling full 'quickly after eating' - medically known as early satiation - could be a warning sign of ovarian cancer. Again, this may be due to a slew of less serious issues such as IBS and stress - but should be flagged to a doctor if experienced frequently (roughly 12 times or more per month).
"Ovarian cancer causes you to feel full quickly after meals because it often causes a build-up of fluid in the abdomen, known as ascites," explains Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy. "As the fluid accumulates, it presses on the internal organs, including the stomach, meaning the stomach cannot stretch as it usually does when full of food."
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The expert adds that one-third of women have ascites when their ovarian cancer is first diagnosed. This is backed by a 2008 study published in PubMed that found a 'strong association' with a 'premature feeling of fullness while eating' with the presence of ovarian cancer. Researchers say this likely reflects the 'presence of an abdominal or pelvic mass'.
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A swollen stomach or feeling bloated is another warning sign to look out for. Again, many women dismiss these symptoms as menstruation pain, IBS, or other stomach issues. However, you should make an appointment with your doctor if this persists.
The same goes for experiencing pain/ tenderness in your stomach or pelvis, an urgent need to urinate, or urinating more than often. Other symptoms to look out for include:
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Back pain
- Feeling tired all the time (fatigue)
- Losing weight without trying
- Bleeding from the vagina after menopause
If you're struggling with cancer - or know somebody who is - you can get help here.