Every patient has access to a gynaecology cancer nurse specialist team from the time of diagnosis. There are many teams around Yorkshire. You will be given the names and contact details of the nurse specialists in your area.
Signs & symptoms
The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be very similar to symptoms of other more common conditions. To try to make sure women are diagnosed as early as possible, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) give the following guidance on symptoms.
GPs should offer ovarian cancer tests to women who have symptoms of bloating and any of the other symptoms below if they happen more than 12 times a month or continue for three weeks:
- A long-lasting bloated feeling in your tummy (having a swollen tummy)
- Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite
- Pain or discomfort in the lower tummy area and/or back
- Needing to pass urine more often or more urgently (feeling like you can’t hold on)
Women over 50 who develop symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) should also see their GP for ovarian cancer tests. IBS symptoms include bloating and changes in bowel habits. It is unusual for women over 50 to develop IBS for the first time.
All these symptoms can be caused by other conditions but it’s very important to get them checked by your GP.
Other possible symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
- Changes in bowel habits (diarrhoea or constipation)
- Pain during sex
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Unexplained or extreme tiredness.