In the United Kingdom 1 in every 50 women will develop ovarian cancer, during her lifetime. This equates to 7,100 women diagnosed each year and it is the fifth most common cancer among women.
More than 80% of ovarian cancers occur in women over the age of fifty. However, it is also seen in teenagers and younger women.
As with most cancers there are risk factors and following diagnosis the treatment can be lengthy, usually involving surgery and chemotherapy.
Time is of the essence, symptoms are often vague, easily mistaken for other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. The disease is often difficult to diagnose until the later stages. There is also a real lack of awareness of the significance of possible symptoms amongst women.
Risk Factors
Age – The risk increases after the menopause, but it is important to remember that a woman can develop ovarian cancer at any age.
Family history – if two or more relatives from the same side of your family have had ovarian cancer under the age of fifty, or there has been more than one case of ovarian and breast cancer in your family, you may have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Other risk factors include BRCA 1 and 2 genetic mutations, being overweight and smoking.
For further information see Cancer Research UK.
If you have symptoms you should make an appointment to see your doctor. Your symptoms may not be due to cancer. However, an early diagnosis will improve the chance of successful treatment and survival. You will not be wasting your doctor’s time.
