Charity says key symptom of ovarian cancer is being missed

Target Ovarian Cancer is concerned that despite successful campaigns to boost awareness of the disease, many are still failing to act on the vital signs.

As reported by The Guardian, a poll of 1,000 women for the charity found 79% did not know that bloating was a symptom, while 68% were unaware abdominal pain was a sign, and 97% did not know feeling full was another.

Additionally, most women (99%) did not know that needing to pee more urgently was also a sign, while evidence suggests women can often be told by their GP that their symptoms are more a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The study found that some women did not know bloating was a symptom of ovarian cancer (PA) (Image: PA)

Alongside that 40% of women also incorrectly believed ovarian cancer could be picked up by screening for cervical cancer.

Annwen Jones, the chief executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “These figures are incredibly disappointing.

“We know we’ve shifted the dial in the past 10 years through the dedication of thousands of Target Ovarian Cancer’s campaigners, but it is not enough. Knowing the symptoms is crucial for everyone.

“We need to make sustained and large-scale government-backed symptoms campaigns a reality. Progress is possible. If we do this, fewer people will be diagnosed late, fewer will need invasive treatment, and, ultimately, fewer will die needlessly from ovarian cancer.”

Ovarian cancer kills about a third of women who have the disease within the first year of it being diagnosed as it is only often found in the late stages.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

According to the NHS website, symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

• a swollen tummy or feeling bloated
• pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between the hips (pelvis)
• no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
• an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often

If you have symptoms like these it is important to get in contact with your GP.