The signs of ovarian cancer that shouldn’t be ignored

According to Ovarian Cancer Australia, the main symptoms of ovarian cancer are bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, feeling full after eating a small amount and needing to urinate urgently or frequently. Other symptoms include excessive fatigue, changes in bowel habit, nausea and back pain.

“If you get a check list for ovarian cancer and you ask women, ‘Have you had these symptoms?’ every woman I know would tick almost all, if not all, of the boxes.”

If these sound familiar, you’re not alone. “If you get a check list for ovarian cancer and you ask women, ‘Have you had these symptoms?’ every woman I know would tick almost all, if not all, of the boxes,” Burton says.

So how do you know when it’s time to take things seriously? Burton says there are a few factors that should lead you to your GP. She says women often experience symptoms that are cyclical, like pelvic pain or bloating around the time of ovulation or menstruation. If your symptoms are “persistent and consistent”, pay attention.

Don’t let fears about overreacting hold you back. “Women in particular often say, ‘Oh, I’m wasting your time,’” says Burton. She urges them to err on the side of caution. “It’s better to ask too many questions than not enough.”

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Ovarian cancer wasn’t even on Emma’s radar when she went to her GP two years ago. She encourages other women not to brush off symptoms they perceive as minor. “Little things like weight fluctuations and skipped periods that you kind of dismiss … tell your GP about them, because these little things matter.”

To read more from Sunday Life magazine, click here.

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