According to the charity Ovarian Cancer Action, if diagnosed early, a woman’s chance of surviving ovarian cancer is 95%. This is more than double the average survival rate for ovarian cancer, as more than 50% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Because earlier detection leads to better prognosis, knowing the early signs can be life-saving – as family physician and women’s health advocate Dr. Nighat Arif knows first hand.
In a posting on Instagram, Dr. Arif said she’s had to “unlearn quite a few things I believed in as a doctor” lately. One of them is that “ovarian cancer can only be detected in the late stages.”
“I was diagnosed with early-stage ovarian cancer as a 28-year-old – and this is not a bragging post,” noted Dr. Arif. “When I think about it, I made a few mistakes and I’m humble enough to put my hands up and say that things didn’t go smoothly for this patient – and I got her permission to share that.”
She continued, “The reason I’m writing this post is to let you know that if you know the symptoms early enough, you can detect ovarian cancer early,” she added.
Dr. Arif further highlighted the “four main symptoms of ovarian cancer that should not be overlooked,” which we present below. “Pay attention because early detection can actually save your life,” she concluded.
READ MORE: Cancer doctors reveal the 12 symptoms they would never ignore
The 4 main symptoms of ovarian cancer
1. Persistent bloating
No bloating that comes and goes. Rather, “it is persistent and lasts longer than three weeks,” she said.
2. Difficulty eating or feeling full more quickly
“Again, this doesn’t come and go,” she explained. “It’s something that lasts longer and lasts longer than three weeks.”
3. The need to pee more often
“This has never happened to you before – but suddenly you feel pressure over your bladder and urgently need to urinate constantly,” explained Dr. Arif.
4. Pain in stomach and thighs
“A feeling of pressure in the lower back and also around the thighs” that you’ve never had before is another symptom, Dr. Arif added.
“If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you or someone you know, make an appointment with your doctor to be evaluated,” she said. “Age is never the determining factor for early detection of ovarian cancer.”
READ MORE: “I beat ovarian cancer and breast cancer at the same time.”
Other possible signs of ovarian cancer
According to Dr., other symptoms to watch out for include: Arif:
- I feel exhausted
- Lose weight without trying
- Lower back pain
- More irritable
- Sleep a lot more
- No energy levels
“There are simple tests that can be done to detect ovarian cancer early, such as a transvaginal ultrasound and a blood test called CA125. These may be some of the first tests your doctor should consider,” explained Dr. Arif.
“It is important to know that a CA125 and ultrasound scan can come back normal,” she noted. “So if the tests come back normal, still continue to monitor symptoms and depending on the symptoms, risk factors, etc., a referral to a gynecologist may be made for further tests such as CT, MRI or an ovarian biopsy (a procedure in which a small sample of tissue is taken from the ovary to check for abnormalities, most commonly used to diagnose or stage ovarian cancer).”
And if you’re worried about whether your symptoms are “severe” enough to seek help? “You’re not wasting anyone’s time,” emphasized Dr. Arif. “GPs like me and my colleagues want to hear from you. Ask specifically about ovarian cancer and note your symptoms.”
This article by Hannah Bradfield was originally published on Women’s Health UK.