Knowing you may be at risk of developing ovarian cancer could help you live longer, a hospital cancer doctor says.
As part of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Dr Georgios Bozas, a Consultant Oncologist at the Queen’s Centre in East Yorkshire, says symptoms of the disease often only appear at an advanced stage.
However, as one in five cases are linked to family history, knowing you’re in at higher risk and taking note of symptoms should encourage you to seek medical advice as soon as you notice changes which may be linked to ovarian cancer.
Dr Bozas said: “Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynaecological cancer and is the sixth most common cancer in women the UK, affecting about 7500 women and claiming around 4,000 lives a year.
“Early diagnosis can improve outcomes but the problem is symptoms usually appear when the cancer is at an advanced stage.
“Knowing you may be at risk of developing ovarian cancer means you can go to your GP as soon as you notice any symptom associated with the condition rather than waiting or putting it off, giving you the best possible chance of survival.”
Ovarian cancer develops when cells in the ovary grow and divide uncontrollably. They can form a tumour on the ovary or break off and spread to other parts of the body, most commonly in the abdomen, intestines, liver and stomach.
It’s most common in women over 50, those who have never had children, women with a family history of breast, colon or ovarian cancer in a close relative such as a mother, daughter or sister, women who are overweight or suffer from endometriosis. Diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, asbestos exposure and very late menopause may also have an association with the development of ovarian cancer Up to Around 20pc of cases are linked to inherited faulty genes, such as BRCA1/BRCA2 (which are also associated with breast cancer and others).
Some of the most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are
- Bloating
- Feeling full quickly, even if you haven’t eaten much
- Upset stomach or changes to bowel movements
- Frequent urination
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
Dr Bozas and the multi-disciplinary team at the Queen’s Centre at Castle Hill Hospital see around 120 patients each year with ovarian cancer, with the average age of 65 to 67.
Once a woman has been referred to the service by her GP following a blood test and ultrasound, she will be referred to the surgical team for surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible.
Some women may undergo pre-operative chemotherapy first before surgery or only chemotherapy is their case isn’t suitable for surgery. Other treatments include targeted therapy, hormone treatments and immunotherapy.