It's World Ovarian Cancer Day - here's everything you need to know
Today, May 8, marks World Ovarian Cancer Day, a day created to help the community of those living with ovarian cancer and survivors of the disease, as well as their families and friends, to share experiences of the illness and help educate the public about the facts and symptoms to be aware of. So, there is no better time to ensure that you, our Hood readers, are up to date with everything you need to know about the cancer dubbed ‘the silent killer’.
Did you know that 1 in 2 people are rocked by a cancer diagnosis during their lifetime? Every year, 32,200 people in Scotland are diagnosed with cancer - that’s 87 people per day. And for women, ovarian cancer is the biggest gynaecology killer.
But thanks to pioneering research, one Scottish charity is helping to increase the survival rates for those diagnosed with this type of life-changing cancer.
We spoke to Worldwide Cancer Research - Scotland’s only cancer research charity - to find out all you need to know about about ovarian cancer, including the symptoms to look out for to help you stay safe.
Ovarian cancer is still known as ‘the silent killer’ because the symptoms are often overlooked. People may be embarrassed to talk about the symptoms, ignore the warning signs or believe they are nothing serious.
When diagnosed at its earliest stage, nine out of ten women with ovarian cancer will survive for five years and longer. However, only 33% of the 7,470 new cases per year in the UK are diagnosed at that stage, so it’s essential that women begin to understand more about the symptoms to recognise, and to feel more confident in speaking to their doctor about anything unusual, or any changes that don’t feel ‘right’.
So, what do we need to look out for? There’s a common misconception that a smear test will screen for ovarian cancer, but unfortunately this isn’t the case.
The main symptoms include:
feeling constantly bloated
a swollen stomach
discomfort and pain in the stomach or pelvic area
feeling full quickly when eating
needing to urinate more often than usual
back pain
changes of bowel habits
extreme tiredness
These symptoms are very similar to the ones people experience for less serious disorders, such as IBS. If symptoms persist or worsen, you should always speak to your GP - even if you have to make a return visit.