ACTING fast on symptoms of bloating, stomach pain and feeling full quickly can lead to an early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, a study shows.
Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed at a later stage, when survival is at its lowest, and is often thought to show symptoms once advanced.
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But researchers say that the signs could be occur up to three years before a diagnosis, even if they are subtle.
Their study showed that ‘symptom triggered testing’ can pick up early stage aggressive ovarian cancer in a quarter of those affected.
And complete surgical removal of the cancerous tissue was possible in 60 per cent of those diagnosed in this way.
Researchers said they hope the findings will raise awareness for more GPs to test for ovarian cancer and encourage women with symptoms to get them checked out.
Shocking statistics have previously revealed that four in five women have no idea that bloating is a sign of ovarian cancer and fail to book a doctor’s appointment about it.
There is no national screening programme for ovarian cancer in the UK, although a process known as ‘symptom triggered testing’ was introduced in 2011.
Under these guidelines, women who have symptoms such as bloating, bowel changes, appetite changes, or abdominal pain should be prioritised for a blood test and ultrasound.
If the results are abnormal, they should be referred to hospital within two weeks.
However, Professor Sudha Sundar of the Pan Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Centre in Birmingham, told the PA news agency that the method’s usefulness has “never really been clear-cut”.
She said: “Although this has existed since 2011, it’s never really been clear-cut if this is useful for patients.
“The medical community has always been a bit unsure about the utility of this, because the thinking is that women showing symptoms may probably have advanced cancer.
“What our study has shown is that, yes, you can pick it up, but you can also pick it up early.”
Ovarian cancer is diagnosed in 7,495 women evey year, and there are 4,142 deaths.
But while most (93 per cent) women diagnosed with early stage disease survive for more than five years, only 13 per cent of those diagnosed with advanced disease do so.
For the study, researchers analysed data from the Refining Ovarian Cancer Test accuracy Scores (ROCkeTS), a study recruiting from 24 hospitals in the UK.
Of the 1,741 patients on the fast-track pathway, 119 (seven per cent) were diagnosed with high grade serous ovarian cancer, the most common type – and the most lethal.
A quarter (25.2 per cent) of the group had stages one or two of the disease.
Visible cancerous tissue was completely removed in 73 (61 per cent) and almost completely removed in 18 (15 per cent).
We’re hoping these papers will make GPs more aware to test for ovarian cancer when they see women with these symptoms, particularly older women
Professor Sudha Sundar
Almost two-thirds of the women – 78 out of 119 – had surgery to remove as many cancer cells from the abdomen as possible, while 36 patients were given chemotherapy before surgery.
Five out of the 119 women did not undergo surgery at all.
Prof Sundar said: “We know this particular cancer, which is the most common form of ovarian cancer, tends to spread across the tummy.
“A quarter of women were stage one, which is fantastic, but even when it had spread, what we’ve been able to show is that the spread was moderate in the majority of women.
“The implication of that, is that they can have relatively straightforward surgery to remove the cancer.
“Potentially we are not just able to identify women with cancer, but pick up ovarian cancer at a stage where it makes a very big difference for the individual.”
Prof Sundar added that she hopes the findings, published in the International Journal of Gynaecological Cancer, will raise awareness to both GPs and patients about ovarian cancer.
“We’re hoping these papers will make GPs more aware to test for ovarian cancer when they see women with these symptoms, particularly older women,” Prof Sundar added.
“We also hope women who have these symptoms will know something is not right and will speak to their GP.”
The 5 gynaecological cancers and their symptoms
OVARIAN CANCER
Nearly 7,500 people are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in the UK, making it the sixth most common cancer in women.
It is most frequently diagnosed post-menopause, but it can affect anyone with ovaries at any stage of life.
The five main ovarian cancer symptoms are:
- Increased abdominal size and persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes)
- Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain
- Unexplained change in bowel habits
- Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly, or feeling nauseous
- Needing to wee more regularly
Other symptoms, such as back pain, fatigue, weight loss and pain during sex may also be present.
CERVICAL CANCER
Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, which connects the womb and vagina.
It can affect patients at any age, but the incidence is highest in women aged 30 to 34.
Cervical screening programmes and HPV vaccines have reduced rates and save 4,000 lives each year, but there are still around 3,200 new cases in the UK annually.
The symptoms of cervical cancer aren’t always obvious, and it may not cause any at all until it’s reached an advanced stage.
But you might notice:
- Unusual bleeding, often after sex
- Pain and discomfort during sex
- Unpleasant smelling vaginal discharge
VULVAL CANCER
Vulval cancer is rare, affecting aound 1,350 people a year in the UK – mostly women over the age of 60.
But younger women are being diagnosed, so they should know to look out for:
- A lasting itch on the external genitalia (vulva)
- Pain or soreness on the external genitalia
- Thickened, raised, red, white or dark patches on the skin of the external genitalia
- An open sore or growth visible on the genital skin
- A mole on the external genitalia that changes shape or colour
- A lump or swelling on the external genitalia
VAGINAL CANCER
Cancer of the vagina is even more rare, with 250 diagnoses made annually in the UK.
The most common signs of the condition include:
- Abnormal bleeding, eg. between periods, after menopause
- Discharge with an unpleasant smell or blood stained
- Pain during penetrative sex
- An internal lump or growth that you or your doctor can feel
- An internal itch that won’t go away and pain when urinating
- Persistent pelvic and internal pain
WOMB CANCER
Cancer of the womb is sometimes referred to as uterine cancer (the medical name for the womb is the uterus), or endometrial cancer (which is cancer of the lining of the womb).
Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the UK and the most common of the five gynaecological cancers, with over 9,700 people diagnosed every year in the UK.
Its incidence in the UK has increased by 12 per cent in the last 10 years.
The most common symptom of womb cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding – especially after the menopause.
This irregular bleeding might be:
- Vaginal bleeding after the menopause
- Bleeding between periods
- Bleeding that is unusually heavy
- Vaginal discharge that is blood-stained (pink, brown, red)
Source: The Eve Appeal
