Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is in March. This year, we're more determined than ever to dispel common myths about ovarian cancer.
Our research has shown that four in ten women wrongly believe that cervical screening can detect ovarian cancer. And the symptoms of ovarian cancer – persistent bloating, abdominal pain, needing to wee more often and feeling full quickly – continue to be put down to other conditions such as the menopause or IBS.
More needs to be done to ensure women are diagnosed early, and awareness and understanding of the symptoms is imperative to this. Helen Dickens, Deputy Chief Executive at Target Ovarian Cancer, said:
Although progress has been made over the years, we need to see it accelerated. A woman diagnosed at the earliest possible opportunity has a better chance of surviving this devastating disease. March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and we want to empower women to get help quickly if they’re concerned.
It starts with knowing the main symptoms - persistent bloating, abdominal pain, needing to wee more often and feeling full quickly. Knowing what’s normal for you. And knowing the facts about ovarian cancer.
Our research shows awareness of the disease remains concerningly low, and misconceptions prevail. This can lead to a delayed diagnosis of ovarian cancer, when the disease is harder to treat.
To dispel the myths, Dr Sharon Tate, Head of Primary Care Engagement at Target Ovarian Cancer, added:
We need to be clear that ovarian cancer can be caught early, if the knowledge is there. We're sharing five things every woman needs to know.
Five things every woman needs to know:
- The disease is not silent – there are key symptoms which are both persistent and occur frequently from the offset which may indicate you have ovarian cancer. These are: bloating, abdominal pain, needing to wee more often and feeling full quickly.
- Cervical screening does not detect ovarian cancer – go for your cervical screening when invited, but also be aware that this does not detect ovarian cancer. Get to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer and if concerned, see your GP.
- Ovarian cancer doesn't discriminate - you can have ovarian cancer at any age but post-menopausal women and those over 50 are at a higher risk.
- You can get ovarian cancer even if you’ve had a hysterectomy - you may still have your ovaries, despite having a hysterectomy. If you ever had or have ovaries and experience the above symptoms, see your GP.
- A family history of cancer, on either side, is important - a common misconception is that hereditary ovarian cancer is only passed down the maternal line, this is not the case. You could be at high risk if you have two or more cases of breast and/or ovarian cancer in your family history.
Sue Stockham, age 65, knows how knowledge of the disease can save lives after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2017. Sue said:
The sad fact is that not enough people know about ovarian cancer and so many women wrongly believe a cervical screening can detect it. Ten years ago, I even thought a smear test could tell you if you had ovarian cancer, and a few years later I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Since my diagnosis, I have learnt so much about the disease and I try my best to do what I can to help other women know the symptoms and risk factors.
Sue states that knowing the symptoms of ovarian cancer and dispelling common misconceptions could be the difference between an early diagnosis and a late one. She said:
Ovarian cancer can be diagnosed in all ages, however around eight out of ten cases are diagnosed in the over 50s so it’s important that we all know the ovarian cancer symptoms to look out for. Before my diagnosis I had some symptoms but they didn’t ring any alarm bells. For example, I was needing to pee more often, I was having issues with my digestion and felt like I was getting full quickly and I was extremely tired. I didn’t consider these as symptoms of ovarian cancer though now I know that I’m not alone in being unaware of the key ovarian cancer symptoms.
We're calling for national symptoms awareness campaigns, increased education around ovarian cancer and support for GPs, and improved access to treatment and support.
Find out more about how you can get involved this Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
