Five things you wish you knew about ovarian cancer

Target Ovarian Cancer’s Nurse Advisers Valerie Lang and Rachel Mugnai, who run the charity’s Support Line, discuss key things to know about the disease for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2020…

Target Ovarian Cancer is the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity. We work to improve early diagnosis, fund life-saving research and provide much-needed support to women with ovarian cancer.

Eleven women die every day from ovarian cancer. It is the biggest killer of any of the gynaecological cancers and in the UK, awareness of the symptoms is low. Just one in five women can name bloating as one of the main symptoms. Early diagnosis saves lives, and Target Ovarian Cancer is raising awareness this March for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

1 – Three times more women can name the key symptoms of breast cancer than ovarian cancer

New research shows that just 20 per cent of UK women can name bloating as a key ovarian cancer symptom. Over three times more (71 per cent of GB women) can name a lump (in the breast, armpit or generally) as a key symptom of breast cancer.

Breast and ovarian cancer combined kill more than 40 women every day and getting an early diagnosis is a must – one in five women with ovarian cancer are too ill to treat by the time they are diagnosed. Women’s lives are at risk because they do not know the important symptoms.

2 – Awareness of the symptoms is alarmingly low

Target Ovarian Cancer’s research shows that just one in five women in the UK can name bloating as a major symptom of ovarian cancer. Watch Target Ovarian Cancer’s symptoms video to find out more.

Some symptoms can be confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms regularly, and they are not normal for you, it is important that you see your GP:

• Persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes
• Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite
• Pelvic or abdominal pain (that’s your tummy and below)
• Urinary symptoms (needing to wee more urgently or more often than usual)

It is unlikely that your symptoms are caused by a serious problem, but it is important to get checked out.

3 – Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late after delays in diagnosis, which makes it harder to treat. However, it is not always diagnosed late, and it is important for everyone to know that there are symptoms to look out for. Target Ovarian Cancer has launched a campaign, It’s time to TAKE OVAR, which aims to increase awareness, both among women and GPs, to ensure more women are diagnosed early.

4 – A smear test does not detect ovarian cancer

One in five women mistakenly believes that a smear test will pick up ovarian cancer, but there is currently no screening programme for ovarian cancer, which is why it is important to know the symptoms and visit your GP if you are worried. More women die from ovarian cancer every year than all the other gynaecological cancers combined. It’s really important to go for your cervical screening (also known as a smear test) when you are called, but a smear test will not detect ovarian cancer.

5 – The BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations (‘Angelina Jolie genes’) put you at increased risk of breast cancer AND ovarian cancer

15-20 per cent of ovarian cancers are caused by genetic mutations. The most common mutations are in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and these increase a woman’s risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. The risk of developing ovarian cancer is about two per cent for women generally, but rises to 30-50 per cent for women with a BRCA1 mutation and 10-25 per cent for women with a BRCA2 mutation. Remember that genetic mutations linked to ovarian cancer can be passed down on the mother’s and the father’s side of the family, so it’s important to know a family history on both sides.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign led by Target Ovarian Cancer, runs throughout March. Knowing the symptoms is vital: persistent bloating, feeling full or loss of appetite, pelvic or abdominal pain, and needing to wee more often or more urgently. Anyone worried about ovarian cancer can contact Target Ovarian Cancer’s nurse-led Support Line at targetovariancancer.org.uk/supportline

Key facts and figures about ovarian cancer

• About 7,500 women are diagnosed each year in the UK
• Around 4,200 women lose their lives each year in the UK – that’s 11 women every day
• A woman in the UK has a one in 50 chance of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her lifetime
• When a woman is diagnosed at the earliest stage, her chance of surviving ovarian cancer for five years or more doubles
• More women die as a result of ovarian cancer each year in the UK than all other gynaecological cancers combined
• Nearly half of GPs (44 per cent) mistakenly believe symptoms are only present in the later stages of ovarian cancer
• Just one in five UK women (20 per cent) can name bloating as one of the main symptoms of ovarian cancer
• Almost half of women (45 per cent) wait three months or more from first visiting their GP to getting a correct diagnosis and almost half (46 per cent) were initially referred for tests for something other than ovarian cancer.
• Over a quarter of women with ovarian cancer (27 per cent) are diagnosed through an emergency presentation such as Accident and Emergency
• One in five women (22 per cent) mistakenly think a smear test would detect ovarian cancer

Anyone who is worried about the symptoms of ovarian cancer or any other aspect of the disease can get in touch with Target Ovarian Cancer’s nurse-led Support Line. Valerie and Rachel provide confidential information, support and signposting for anyone affected by ovarian cancer. Contact our Support Line on 020 7923 5475 (Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm) or get in touch online www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/supportline