80% of women don’t know the 4 key signs of ‘silent killer’ ovarian cancer – are you one of them?
FOUR in five women are clueless when it comes to the warning signs of ovarian cancer, a leading charity has warned.
The "silent killer" claims the life of 11 British women every day, prompting calls for greater awareness.
While most know to look for a lump to check for breast cancer, knowledge of ovarian cancer is at a critical low among both the public and medics.
Yet, every year 7,000 women are dealt the devastating diagnosis, and that number is projected to rise by 15% by 2035.
Nearly half of those diagnosed see their GP at least three times before being referred for tests, and two-thirds are not diagnosed until after the cancer has spread.
Annwen Jones, CEO of , said the impending ovarian cancer "time bomb" is down to a worrying lack of awareness.
“Four in five women cannot name one major symptom of ovarian cancer, but most of us are aware of other cancerous warning signs, such as a misshapen mole for skin cancer,” she told Fabulous, launching The Sun's Let's Get #Ovarit campaign to raise awarenesss.
“Another problem is that GPs often attribute symptoms to other issues, like the menopause.
"No GP wants to miss ovarian cancer, which is why we work with surgeries to help them rule it out quickly. But much more needs to be done.
"We couldn’t be prouder to work with Fabulous on its #OvarIt campaign. Hopefully, together we will save lives.”
GET #OVARIT - join our campaign and show your support
WE are calling on all Fabulous readers to help us spread the word across every social media platform to make everyone aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and realise it can hit women at any age.
How? Simply post a picture on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with the number 11 written on your hand, to drive home how many women die every day from this terrible disease.
And make sure you add our campaign hashtag, #OvarIt.
To find out more about the disease visit
Many women are also under the impression the ovarian cancer doesn’t affect young people.
Yet, 18 per cent of those diagnosed – nearly one in five – are under 50.
So.. what are the red flag signs YOU could have ovarian cancer?
- persistent bloating - not bloating that comes and goes
- feeling full quickly and/or a loss of appetite
- tummy or pelvic pain
- needing to pee more urgently, or more often than usual
And in some cases there will be other symptoms:
- changes in bowel habit, diarrhoea or constipation
- extreme tiredness
- unexplained weight loss
Who's most at risk?
There are a number of factors that can increase a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer.
They include:
- age - women older than 50 have a greater risk, but one in five sufferers are under 50
- family history - if ovarian cancer runs in your family, if a close female relative has been diagnosed, it could mean there's a genetic risk
- weight - if you're overweight or obese you're more likely to develop the disease
- health problems - if you have conditions including endometriosis and diabetes, have had hormone replacement therapy, or use talcum powder between your legs, you could be at greater risk
- lifestyle - smokers are more likely to develop the disease
What should you do if you're worried?
These signs and symptoms are cause for concern if they happen frequently - more than 12 times a month.
If they don't go away or are not normal for you, it's important to visit your GP.
In many cases, there will be another, less serious, reason for a woman's symptoms but it's vital to let a doctor check you over.
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