May the 8th is World Ovarian Cancer Day. Women living with ovarian cancer, their families and supporters, along with patient advocacy organizations from around the world, come together to raise awareness about ovarian cancer.
It can be difficult to diagnose ovarian cancer because the symptoms are ones that many women will have from time to time, and they are often symptoms of less serious and more common health problems.
But we do know that ovarian cancer is NOT a silent disease. Women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer report four types of symptoms most frequently:
- Abdominal or pelvic pain.
- Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating.
- Needing to urinate often or urgently.
- Feeling full after eating a small amount.
Be aware — but don’t make yourself sick with worry. You know your body better than anyone else, so always listen to what your body is saying and trust your instincts.
If you have any of these symptoms, they are new for you and you have experienced them multiple times during a 4-week period, go to your GP.