Cancer Council WA Mid West warning to not ignore ‘vague symptoms’ as part of ovarian cancer awareness month

With one week of ovarian cancer awareness month left, Cancer Council WA Mid West regional education officer Aiden McDowell has reminded women not to disregard vague symptoms. There are more deaths from ovarian cancer in Australia than any other gynaecological cancer due to it being difficult to detect in its early stages. In 2017, there were 115 reported new cases of ovarian cancer and 94 deaths due to an ovarian cancer diagnosis, including three in the Mid West. Mr McDowell said women should pay attention to any symptoms that were unusual, new, persistent or troublesome as they could be attributed to other benign conditions. “If you have any of the symptoms and they happen on most days for three weeks or more, particularly if you’re over 50 or have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, go to your doctor or Aboriginal health professional and get a check-up,” he said. “You won’t be wasting the doctor’s time and in most cases it won’t be anything to worry about, but if it is cancer your chances of successfully treating it are much greater.” Ovarian cancer is most common in women over the age of 50. Symptoms include pain in the abdomen or side, a bloated feeling in the abdomen, irregular periods or vaginal bleeding after menopause, back pain, passing urine more often than usual, change in bowel habits, pain during sex, a swollen abdomen, a feeling of fullness or loss of appetite, indigestion or nausea. There is a one in 161 chance a woman will develop ovarian cancer by the time they are 75. For more information, call Cancer Council WA on 13 11 20.