Ovarian cancer

There's a lot of competition for the number ten spot, but we make no apologies for adding ovarian cancer.

Many medical conditions can claim to be a "silent killer," but none more so than ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than cancers of the cervix, womb, vagina and vulva combined. Each year, over 6,500 women are diagnosed with the disease and over 4,000 die from it.

The disease is often "silent" in it's early stages, with few noticeable symptoms. Even when symptoms begin, women are either unaware of them, or ignore them altogether.

Most at risk

All women are at risk. Your risk also increases with age. Eight out of ten cases occur in women over 50. Women with one close relative - mother, sister, grandmother, aunt or niece - have a slightly higher risk of ovarian cancer.

You may have a higher risk if:

• You have never had children
• You are obese
• You started your periods at an early age
• You went through the menopause after the age of 50

Family History

A small minority of women may have inherited genes which puts them at greater risk of the disease. You may fall into this group if:

• You have a close relative diagnosed with ovarian cancer and two close relatives diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 60 on one side of the family - mother or father's side
• You have one close relative diagnosed with ovarian cancer, plus another close relative diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50, from the same side of the family
• You have one close relative diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50 and ovarian cancer at any age

If in any doubt, contact your GP. Women who fall into this category may be eligible to take part in a screening programme.

Prevention

Your risk is reduced if:

• You have taken the contraceptive pill
• You breast fed after pregnancy

Know the early signs

Ovarian cancer is often without obvious symptoms in the early stages of disease when it can be most effectively treated. It is often mistaken by women (and some GPs) for irritable bowel syndrome.

Early signs of disease include:

• Persistent pelvic and stomach pain
• Increased abdominal size / persistent bloating - not bloating that comes and goes
• Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly

Occasionally other symptoms such as urinary symptoms, changes in bowel habit, extreme fatigue or back pain may also be experienced on their own or at the same time as these.

This article was published on Wed 17 February 2010