Recognising signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer

Date published: 09 March 2020

There are signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer you can watch out for, and you should talk to your GP if you think something is wrong. The sooner ovarian cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat.

Be aware

Most women do not have any symptoms in the early stages of the disease and too often it is diagnosed late.

The symptoms to be aware of include:

  • persistent bloating for three weeks or more
  • persistent pelvic and abdominal pain
  • difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
  • needing to pee urgently or more frequently than normal
  • changes in bowel habit
  • extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
  • unexplained weight loss

If you experience these symptoms it is best to get advice from your GP.

Some of symptoms of ovarian cancer are similar to those seen in more common conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This means your GP may wish to do a simple blood test which helps provide more information on the possible underlying condition.

You can find out more about ovarian cancer at this link:

Ovarian cancer usually affects women over the age of 45, though it can occur in younger women.

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