Bloating, along with three other symptoms, could be crucial early indicators of a deadly cancer affecting women. In the UK, around 7,500 women are diagnosed with this cancer each year, but many cases aren’t caught until the disease is in its later stages, drastically reducing survival rates.

Due to the common nature of these initial symptoms, misdiagnosis is a frequent issue. Only about 45% of patients live beyond five years after their diagnosis, according to Ovarian Cancer Action. These early symptoms are often mistaken for conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and a quarter of women mistakenly believe that a smear test checks for ovarian cancer.

Recognizing Ovarian Cancer Symptoms:

The four main symptoms to watch for include bloating, difficulty eating, frequent urination, and abdominal pain. Women experiencing these signs can use the charity’s symptom tracker diary, which could help their doctor make a correct diagnosis.

In honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the charity urges people to become aware of these symptoms to “change the future for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.”

While this disease is more common in women over 50, it can affect anyone with ovaries, regardless of age. Astonishingly, it’s possible to develop ovarian cancer even after the ovaries have been removed.

Ovaries are the glands situated on either side of the uterus that generate and store eggs. Ovulation is the process by which the ovaries release eggs, and it’s theorised that less frequent ovulation reduces a person’s ovarian cancer risk.

Events like pregnancy and menopause can inhibit ovulation. As such, women who experience their first full-term pregnancy before turning 26 and those with multiple pregnancies may slightly decrease their disease risk.

However, some studies suggest that using HRT during or post-menopause could heighten the risk of ovarian cancer, although experts remain uncertain about the cause.

Other conditions, such as endometriosis or diabetes, might escalate the risk of ovarian cancer, especially for insulin users. But there are measures people can take to reduce their disease risk.

Changes to lower your risk of ovarian cancer: