dr frankie – ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the gynaecological cancers, affecting the ovaries – part of the female reproductive system, whereby each month, an egg is released from the ovaries during ovulation. Over 7500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the UK, making it the 6th most common cancer in women. Risk increases with age and it’s most common in women over 75, but it can affect younger women too, particularly if there’s a family history

How does it present?

Ovarian cancer is a nifty one – it often goes undiagnosed until it reaches the late stages because its symptoms are vague and often overlap with other more common and less serious conditions such as IBS, meaning it can be difficult to pick up at an early stage. Symptoms include bloating (which is not always obvious), feeling full quickly, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, needing to wee more frequently, abnormal vaginal bleeding, unexplained tiredness, unexplained weight loss or changes in bowel habit. I think we can all agree that we’ve experienced at least one of these symptoms at some point? Hence it can often slip through the net. It’s important if these symptoms persist, particularly if over the age of 50 or have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, that you run these symptoms by your doctor. It’s probably nothing to worry about but it’s always best to get checked out.

What causes ovarian cancer?

The exact cause of ovarian cancer is not known, however there are a few factors associated with increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, including:

• Increasing age – Like many cancers, the biggest risk factor is age – with over half of cases occurring in women over 65 years.
• Family history – Some people will develop ovarian cancer as a gene may run in their family which puts them at increased risk (e.g., BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes which can also cause breast cancer). Approximately 5-10% of cases of ovarian cancer are through to be hereditary.
• Starting periods at a younger age, having a later menopause (over 55years) and not having children may increase risk – this is because these things increase the number of times you ovulate. During each ovulation, an egg is release from the ovaries and cell repair must take place, creating more opportunities for a cancerous cell to develop
• Previous cancers – particularly if received radiotherapy treatment for cancers such as bowel cancer
• Common cancer risk factors such as smoking, being overweight

Interestingly, taking the combined oral contraceptive pill appears to reduce your risk of developing ovarian cancer as it can reduce ovulation and ovarian activity.

Are there any screening tests for ovarian cancer?

Unlike breast and cervical cancer, we don’t have any robust screening tests for ovarian cancer. So it’s vitally important that you go to your doctor to get any symptoms checked out if they occur. Your GP may wish to do a blood test, and internal examination and possibly refer you for an ultrasound scan.

If caught early, ovarian cancer can have a good outcome. That’s why it’s so important we are all aware of the signs to look for. So, what can you do? Read up, speak up and share this article with you mums, sisters, aunties and friends and let’s raise awareness about this important cancer!