Did you know that February is Ovarian Cancer Month?
Held each year in February to educate Australians on ovarian cancer, and raise awareness by sharing the stories of real women affected by the disease.
Ovarian cancer is a general term used to describe a malignancy which starts in one or both ovaries. Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in Australian with 1580 women diagnosed each year. At this stage there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer so it is vital that women are aware of the symptoms.
The most common symptoms are:
- Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Feeling full after eating a small amount
- Needing to urinate often or urgently
Additional symptoms include:
- Changes of bowel habits
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Excessive fatigue
- Lower back pain
- Indigestion or nausea
- Bleeding after menopause or in-between periods
- Pain during sex or bleeding after.
If you experiencing any of these symptoms, which are persistent and troublesome, you should see your doctor. Remember we know our body best, so always listen to what your body is saying and trust your instincts.