Ovarian cancer – the facts

Annwen Jones, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer comments: 

"There is, as yet, no proven screening test for ovarian cancer, but research has identified the most common symptoms and shown that they occur very frequently – almost daily. Our research tells us that 98 per cent of women do have symptoms, including those diagnosed at an early stage, but we also know that most women are just not aware that what they are feeling could signal ovarian cancer. We hope our Campaign will help expose ovarian cancer and encourage more women to seek medical advice if they experience persistent symptoms."

Ovarian cancer - facts and figures:

• a staggering 4 per cent of women are very confident that they would notice a symptom of  ovarian cancer;
• 6,800 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year;
• 4,500 will die from the disease each year – that's more than four times as many as die from cervical cancer;
• UK survival rate for ovarian cancer is around only 30 per cent – one of the lowest in the western world;
• Target Ovarian's research shows that 66 per cent of women have received health information about cervical cancer  but only 33 per cent have received information about ovarian cancer;
• nearly 50 per cent of women in the UK mistakenly believe that cervical cancer is the gynaecological cancer they should be most worried about;
• shockingly, 29 per cent of women mistakenly believe that a cervical smear test will detect signs of ovarian cancer;
• of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, 56 per cent didn't know anything about the disease beforehand;
• if diagnosed at the earliest stage, up to 90 per cent of women can survive ovarian cancer because their disease has not spread and responds more effectively to treatment;
• if diagnosed once the cancer has spread widely, however, around 85 per cent of women with ovarian cancer will die; 
  
• 93 per cent of GPs report that women often experience a delay in getting a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. 
  

The main symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

• persistent bloating or swelling of the abdomen;
• persistent tummy pain;
• persistently feeling full or having difficulty eating.

These are common symptoms that most women feel, but if you have the symptoms on most days, you should get checked out by your doctor.

To help you find out how much you really know about the main cancers likely to affect women, Target Ovarian Cancer has launched the Quick Cancer Quiz at www.targetovarian.org.uk 

Taking just five minutes, the quick fire quiz tests your knowledge of common cancer myths and facts.