Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Women remain unaware of ovarian cancer and its symptoms, according to research commissioned by the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity, Ovarian Cancer Action.

This is despite ovarian cancer being the most fatal gynaecological cancer and accounts for more deaths than all the other gynaecological cancers combined.

It is the fifth most common cancer in women in the UK and around 6,800 women develop the disease each year. Two out of every three cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease when the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries, making it more difficult to treat.

Because of this, 70% of women diagnosed with the disease will die within five years, a statistic that has not significantly changed in the UK over twenty years. However, if detected in it’s early stages – before the disease has spread beyond the ovary - women have a 90% chance of surviving the disease.

Ovarian Cancer Action’s survey of 1076 women across the UK found that that there is a clear need to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms amongst women and healthcare professionals.

Just 8% of women questioned were aware of the correct symptoms of ovarian cancer.

These include:

• pelvic and abdominal pain
• increased abdominal size/persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes)
• Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly Women may also experience other frequent symptoms such as urinary symptoms, changes in bowel habit, extreme fatigue or back pain.

As well as this, 50% of the women surveyed, mistakenly believed cervical screening tests would detect ovarian cancer (it doesn’t).

Ovarian cancer is not related to sexual activity, is not detected via a smear test, is more common in women than cervical cancer and is the most deadly gynaecological cancer.

There is currently no nationwide screening programme for ovarian cancer available to women – which is why it is so important women need to be aware of the symptoms to improve their chance of receiving prompt diagnosis and treatment.

During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March, Ovarian Cancer Action will be working to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms. The charity is undertaking a range of activities to ensure that women develop a greater understanding of the persistent symptoms to be aware of and encourage them to seek medical advice from their GPs promptly if they are experiencing them on most days.

Peter Reynolds, Ovarian Cancer Action’s Chief Executive commented:

“Every woman needs to know about ovarian cancer and its symptoms. There is a great deal of confusion surrounding the disease and how it can be detected. It is important that women seek medical advice promptly if they are experiencing any of the common symptoms on most days. Most women experiencing these symptoms are unlikely to have ovarian cancer but, for those women who go on to be diagnosed with the disease, their chances of survival may be greatly enhanced if the disease is detected earlier.”

In March, as part of a broad programme of awareness and research activity, Ovarian Cancer Action will be distributing symptoms awareness leaflets and posters to every GP surgery in England and Wales in time for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to help raise awareness amongst GPs and their patients. Surgeries in Scotland were sent awareness literature in November.

Dr.Chris says: Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer due to the often vague and non specific symtoms. However, another reason for calling it this is that so few people seem to know about or have even heard of the disease. Cervical cancer caused the deaths of under 1,000 women in 2006, ovarian cancer almost 4,500, yet everyone knows about cervical cancer. We really do need all women to be aware of the symptoms.

For further information: http://www.ovariancanceraction.org.uk

This article was published on Mon 9 March 2009