'Bloating' could be early symptom of deadly cancer, women told
Four telltale signs, including bloating, may be early warning signs of a fatal cancer impacting women. With approximately 7,500 UK women receiving diagnoses annually, many cases aren't detected until the disease has progressed to advanced stages, when survival rates plummet.
Because these initial symptoms are so commonplace, misdiagnosis is frequent, and merely 45% of patients survive beyond five years following diagnosis, Ovarian Cancer Action reports. These warning signs are frequently confused with conditions such as Irritable Bowel Disease, and one in four women incorrectly assume their smear test screens for ovarian cancer.
Common ovarian cancer symptoms:
- Persistent bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
- Changes in urinary habits
The four primary indicators of the condition are bloating, trouble eating, increased urination frequency and abdominal discomfort. Women noticing these signs can utilise the charity's symptoms tracker diary, which may assist their GP in reaching an accurate diagnosis.
To mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the charity is calling on people to recognise these symptoms and "change the future for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer".
Whilst the disease predominantly strikes women over 50, it can affect anyone with ovaries regardless of age. Remarkably, developing ovarian cancer remains possible even after the removal of the ovary.
Ovaries are the glands situated on either side of the uterus that generate and store eggs. Ovulation is the process by which the ovaries release eggs, and it's theorised that less frequent ovulation reduces a person's ovarian cancer risk.
Events like pregnancy and menopause can inhibit ovulation. As such, women who experience their first full-term pregnancy before turning 26 and those with multiple pregnancies may slightly decrease their disease risk.
However, some studies suggest that using HRT during or post-menopause could heighten the risk of ovarian cancer, although experts remain uncertain about the cause.
Other conditions, such as endometriosis or diabetes, might escalate the risk of ovarian cancer, especially for insulin users. But there are measures people can take to reduce their disease risk.
Changes to lower your risk of ovarian cancer:
- Not smoking
- Having a healthy, balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
- Getting genetic testing or speaking to your GP if you're worried about your risk