Guernsey Press

UK trailing other nations in diagnosing ovarian cancer, charity warns

Cases of the disease are expected to increase by 15% to around 10,500 a year in the UK by 2035.

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Women in the UK are being failed when it comes to diagnosing ovarian cancer in comparison with other countries, a charity has warned.

Target Ovarian Cancer said UK women are waiting longer than average for a diagnosis – 30% are diagnosed within a month compared with 43% globally – while two-thirds (66%) are diagnosed once the cancer has already spread.

The figures come from the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Every Woman Study – the largest ever global review of the experiences of more than 1,500 women with ovarian cancer from 44 countries.

Worldwide ovarian cancer incidence is rising, and is expected to increase by 55% by 2035.

It is expected to go up by 15% in the UK, from around 7,300 cases a year currently to around 10,500 a year by 2035.

Previous research by Target Ovarian Cancer found nearly half (46%) of women with the disease are initially referred for tests for something other than ovarian cancer, meaning they risk delays while waiting for test results and further referrals if tests for other conditions come back negative.

The charity said raising awareness among GPs and women would ensure earlier diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and it wants to see the Government fund a campaign to increase knowledge of its symptoms.

When a woman is diagnosed at the earliest stage, her chance of surviving ovarian cancer for five years or more doubles.

It also suggests that as with breast cancer, measures are brought in to speed up diagnostic testing so more women get an early diagnosis.

Annwen Jones, Target Ovarian Cancer chief executive and co-chairwoman of the Every Woman Study, said: “Today’s Every Woman Study shows how the UK trails the rest of the world in diagnosing ovarian cancer early.

“Prime Minister Theresa May has made a personal commitment to see more cancers diagnosed sooner, and this report shows how much more needs to be done to make that goal a reality.

“These measures could save lives, and women simply cannot wait any longer.”

Sue Rizzello, 53, from Berkshire, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012.

She said: “I had never heard of ovarian cancer or the symptoms before I was diagnosed.

“I experienced fatigue and bloating, but passed it off to over-working and putting on some weight.

“The GP said the bloating definitely wasn’t fluid, but when the symptoms continued I kept going back and luckily a locum GP sent me for a CA125 blood test.

“I was diagnosed with stage IIIc advanced ovarian cancer.

Sue Rizzello
Sue Rizzello, 53, said she had never heard of ovarian cancer before her diagnosis (Target Ovarian Cancer/PA)

Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include persistent bloating, feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite, pelvic or abdominal pain, and urinary symptoms such as needing to wee more urgently or more often than usual.

Other less common signs include changes in bowel habit such as diarrhoea or constipation, extreme fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.

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