SAGA magazine are promoting Ovarian Cancer Awareness month (March) : Ovarian cancer: do you know the symptoms? By Lesley Dobson , Friday 7 March 2014 How much do you know about your ovaries? Or more to the point, how much do you know about the symptoms of ovarian cancer? According to the charity Target Ovarian Cancer, only 3% of women feel confident that they would be able to spot a symptom of ovarian cancer. Anxious woman Dont put off your check-up if you have experienced any symptoms. Image posed by models. This is cause for concern because it is the 5th most common cancer in women, with about 7,100 women being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK each year. This means that too often ovarian cancer goes undiagnosed for too long. One quarter of women take more than three months to visit their GP after they first experience symptoms. Once they do see their GP, almost one third of women face delays or more in obtaining a correct diagnosis. This may explain why we have one of the worst survival rates in England. So this month – Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - Target Ovarian Cancer is asking everyone (and you don’t have to be a woman to do this), to tell 50 people about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. They are also asking everyone to raise at least £50 to help the charity continue with its vital work. Why all the 50s? One in 50 women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime. By handing out 50 leaflets at least one woman could notice that she has some of the symptoms, see her GP and get an earlier diagnosis. About ovarian cancer Getting older is a risk factor for ovarian cancer, as it is with many other types of cancer. Women who are post-menopausal are the most likely to have ovarian cancer. Other potential risk factors include a family history of cancer, being infertile or having infertility treatment, using a coil, having endometriosis, using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and smoking. This section gives information about epithelial ovarian cancer, the most common type, which accounts for almost 9 out of 10 cases. For information on the rarer types of ovarian cancer go to targetovariancancer.org.uk or to cancerresearchuk.org and look for the section types of ovarian cancer. Symptoms of ovarian cancer In the earliest stages, while it is still confined to your ovary (stage 1 ovarian cancer), you may not have any symptoms. If you do they are likely to be fairly mild, and include pain in your side, and a bloated feeling in your abdomen. Stages 2 and 3 are cancer that has spread and is growing in the space between your hip bones. Symptoms can include lower tummy pain, back pain, constipation, bleeding from the vagina after the menopause, or irregular periods, and having to pass urine more often than is normal for you. You may also have difficulty eating, or feel full quickly. Stage 4 ovarian cancer means that the cancer has spread to another organ in your body, such as your lungs. Symptoms can include tiredness, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and obvious swelling in your abdomen. If your symptoms are new, quite severe and don’t come and go happen on most days for three weeks or more and particularly if you are over 50 or have a clear family history of breast or ovarian cancer, you should see your GP for a check-up. Don’t put it off. Find out how to get free Raising Awareness leaflets Useful websites Target Ovarian Cancer - targetovariancancer.org.uk Cancer Research UK - cancerresearchuk.org
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:16:09 +0000
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