Ovarian cancer rates to soar: don’t miss the early signs of the cancer

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer affecting women, after breast, bowel, lung and womb, but it has the lowest survival rate. Post-menopausal women who haven’t had any

children, or are infertile, are most at risk. Women also have a higher chance of developing the disease if they are over 50 or have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer. According to

the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, global diagnoses will rise by 55 percent in the next two decades. The coalition expects to see a 15 percent increase in the UK alone. At present, more

than 7,000 women are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year. Some of the rise in the rate of the cancer is due to women living longer. The population shift from rural to urban areas

has also been cited as a cause for the higher rate, though the reason has yet to be explained. Ovarian cancer survival rates are low because symptoms are vague and are often attributed to

other illness, meaning tumours usually aren’t diagnosed until the disease is in its later stages. For that reason, surgery is often needed, along with chemotherapy. About half of all women

in the UK who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer live for more than five years after diagnosis. “The symptoms aren't always easy to recognise because they're similar to those of 

some more common conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),” the NHS says. If IBS symptoms last for longer than three weeks, you should speak to your GP about ovarian cancer. 

Common signs include a swollen tummy or persistent bloating that doesn’t go away, discomfort in the stomach or pelvic area, and feeling full quickly after eating. Needing to pee more often

than normal, or more urgently, could also be a sign of ovarian cancer. Other less common symptoms include ongoing indigestion or nausea, and a change in bowel habits. The NHS also lists back

pain, tiredness and unintentional weight loss as ovarian cancer warning signs. Vaginal bleeding, particularly after the menopause, is another sign to be wary of. In 2016, a US study found a

link between talc and ovarian cancer if the particles travelled through the fallopian tubes to the ovaries. Researchers studied more than 2,000 women with ovarian cancer and a similar-sized

group of women who were free of disease. Overall, they found a 33 percent increase in the risk of ovarian cancer with genital talc use. The NHS states that the study was too small to be

conclusive, but does note that gynaecologists recommend using plain, unperfumed soaps to gently wash the area around the vagina, as opposed to talc or perfumed soaps, gels and antiseptics.