The UK has poor survival rates and is positioned seventh in the list of European Countries for high ovarian cancer incidence and mortality rates. If found in the early stages, up to 90% of women will survive for more than five years.¹

Unfortunately, most women in the UK are not diagnosed with ovarian cancer until the later stages and it has already spread beyond the ovaries, making successful treatment difficult and survival rates much lower at around 30%.^1,2

It is difficult to detect or diagnose at an early stage because some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer are very similar to those seen in more common conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).³

There are four stages of Ovarian Cancer:

Stage I:    Disease limited to the ovaries
Stage II:   Disease has spread to the pelvis
Stage III:  Disease has spread through the abdomen
Stage IV: Disease has spread to distant organs

Ovarian Cancer Symptom Checklist

Early detection of ovarian cancer can save lives.

What are the symptoms?

There is currently no proven screening program and 90% of ovarian cancers are not 'familial'. This means that most women will not have any family history of this cancer, so they may not be aware of symptoms and risk factors.⁴

An ovarian cancer consensus statement has been developed by UK ovarian cancer experts about symptoms which could indicate ovarian cancer. Any of the following three symptoms, if they occur on most days, can suggest ovarian cancer.⁵

• Increased abdominal size / persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes
• Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly
• Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain

Occasionally you may experience other symptoms such as:

• Changes in bladder habits, e.g. urinary urgency
• Unexplained changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
• Low back pain
• Abdominal mass
• Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full
• Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
• Changes in menstruation
• A persistent lack of energy

If you do have any of these symptoms, you could consider taking the OvPlex™ test. You should also as a matter of course, discuss any medical concerns with your Doctor .

Note: Cervical screening tests (sometimes known as smear tests) do not help to detect ovarian cancer!⁶

Download the Ovarian Cancer Consensus Statement.

Also see Resources for more information on Ovarian Cancer.

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